Nurse bought new bike after thief strikes

A STUDENT nurse had his new bike stolen from outside a hospital just hours into his first shift – but kind-hearted well-wishers raised hundreds of pounds to replace it for him.

Dean James’ partner bought him the black Carrera bike so he could get to work at his new placement at Manchester Royal Infirmary without needing to take public transport.

Just a few hours into his induction Dean, 27, found the chained-up bike had vanished from the rack near the hospital’s library.

Thieves appeared to have cut the lock and then taken it along with the £325 bike which had green lettering.

Police are investigating the theft which happened between 9.30am and 12.30pm on Monday.

Dean, who lives in the city centre with partner Alex Stewart, says he was angry and upset that someone could steal from a hospital during a pandemic. But he now says his faith has been restored after members of the public donated more than £600 in a matter of hours to get him a new bike.

Alex, 32, set up the crowdfunding campaign and said he was ‘appealing to the kind, loving nature of people who are the complete opposite of the person who stole from him’ to help ‘get him back on his wheels’.

Dean said: “I just can’t believe someone came onto the hospital grounds and stole like that.

“When you’re there to help people and try and save lives it is a proper kick in the teeth. Initially I was really annoyed about it but once I saw the fundraising it restored my faith in people. It just shows how much goodness and kindness there is out there.”

Anyone with information about the theft can call police on 101.