A brain-injury victim who needs his pedal cycle to help with his rehabilitation was left shocked and angry after it was stolen.

Jason Fostine-DeSilva spent three months in a coma after a motorbike smash in 1986, which left him semi-quadriplegic.

Defying doctors who said he would never walk again, the 36 year old put himself through a gruelling daily rehabilitation regime including lengthy gym and cycling sessions.

The cycling in particular, he says, has helped him cope with the condition Ataxia which gives him jerky and uncoordinated body movements and means he can only walk slowly.

However, in the early hours of Friday he discovered that the 21-speed grey Raleigh mountain bike that has played a key role in his rehabilitation had been stolen from outside his home in East Shore Road, Sandys.

?The bike was only outside because it was raining, and it was right by my door. It wasn?t locked because I didn?t think I would have to lock it.

?I had friends over for the night and when I went out to see the last one off at around 1 a.m, I realised the bike had gone.

?I was dumbfounded and still can?t believe it. Why would anyone want to do that?? he said. ?There?s a sensor light outside my door so whoever did this must be quite brazen. I think it had to be someone that knows me ? I?ve lived in the same place for ten years.

?I used my bike for my rehab as well as for getting around and it has helped me tremendously. I ride every day as it is the perfect thing to help make my movements quicker through evening-up the impulses in my brain.

?I?d love to have it back. I will still be able to get around without it but I will get around slowly. It will make my road a little bit more rough and rocky.?

Mr. Fostine-DeSilva, who lives on Government allowances, does not have enough money to replace the $500 bike, which was bought for him last summer by his father.

It had been a replacement for his worn-out last bike, which had been bought for him by kind-hearted readers who read of his urgent need for a decent set of wheels in 2001.

He urged anyone with information about the theft to contact the Police.