Generous strangers raise more than £250 after autistic teen’s bike stolen in Northampton town centre

A fundraising campaign has been set up in a bid to replace a teenager’s bike that was stolen in Northampton town centre.

Johnny Swanston rode his bike into town from his home in Kingsthorpe on Monday (June 22).

The 18-year-old, who has autism, enjoys riding his bike anywhere he goes and often uses it as a way to calm down if he is stressed.

According to his mum, Johnny left his bike outside a shop in Gold Street for ‘less than a minute’, before he noticed someone stealing it.

Emma Smith, Johnny’s mum, said: “When he saw someone going off with it, he shot out but they had already gone.

“He asked people if they could help him but nobody was willing to.

“One lady, who I think works for the council, chatted to him and took him back to the shop to see if they had CCTV. The police have been notified.

“I can’t believe someone could be so thoughtless. It’s not a nice thing for him to experience, but he has coped really well.

“Johnny is starting college in September so was planning to use his bike to commute.

“And with his autism, if he feels like he is getting stressed out, he will go out on his bike to calm himself down.”

After Emma posted about the theft on a local biking group of Facebook, someone she does not even know, who was touched by what had happened, set up a JustGiving page to help buy Johnny a new bike.

Nearly 20 people have donated to the page that has already raised more than £250.

Emma added: “I’m really overwhelmed by how many people have helped.

“It really restores your faith in humanity especially in these times.”

Northamptonshire Police are investigating the crime and are looking for a man in his 30s who made off in the direction of Sol Central after stealing the bike.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “This happened between 1pm and 1.35pm on June 22, when an 18-year-old boy went into a shop in Gold Street and while he was inside, had his bicycle stolen from outside.

“The offender is described as a white man in his 30s, of slim build, about 5ft 10in.

“He was wearing a navy blue baseball cap, a navy blue sports jacket with no collar and white piping around the cuffs, collar and waist trim, blue skinny jeans and blue trainers.

“He went in the direction of Sol Central after stealing the bicycle.

“We are investigating the incident but in the meantime would appeal to the offender to please return the bike.

“Though some people may think a bicycle is just a material possession, to many people it is a lifeline – a means of transport or a method of exercise for example.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information about it, is asked to call police on 101.

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