A MOTHER has hit out at thieves who stole her son’s bike after she was forced to pay to get it back.

The bike belongs to 15-year-old Cameron Antal and holds a lot of sentimental value for him but that did not stop someone trying to cash in on it.

It is the second time Cameron has had dealings with bike thieves this year, after a bike which he built with his late father was also stolen.

Then a member of mountain biking group MB Swindon who knew Cameron’s father Chris Antal, who died almost eight years ago, decided to step in.

Bringing together other members of the group, along with local businesses, parts were collected to make a top-quality bike and they helped Cameron build it at the Hub in Fleet Street.

At the time Cameron said: “The bike itself has been so smooth since I brought it home.

“It’s been riding great and you can feel the quality of all the little bits on it.”

His mother Louise Morecombe has spoken of her anger at the theft and then shock at what followed.

She said: “Cameron went to have his hair cut on Commercial Street but there was nowhere for him to lock his bike up, so he kept it in between two doors into the shop.

“He was keeping an eye on it but got distracted for a few minutes and when he turned around it was gone.

“It means so much to him so he was obviously very upset.

“I was angry at first but he had nowhere to lock it up.

“I put a notice up on the Swindon For Sale Group asking if anyone had seen anything and then a few hours later someone contacted me.

“The male on the end of the phone said his friend had the bike but, because he had paid for it, he wanted to get his money back.”

The man said he would wait for five minutes and although she was wary, the family was desperate to get the bike back.

“I just dropped everything and got in the car with my husband and son because we wanted the bike back,” said Louise.

“We had to meet him outside Booth Crescent, which fortunately is just around the corner.

“There were three men there and we were obviously scared.

“As soon as we handed the money over and got the bike back I told Cameron to cycle home.”

The whole incident has been reported to police but Louise wants thieves to realise how important people’s bikes are.

She said: “People use their bike to get to work or school.

“In Cameron’s case it had huge sentimental value.

“It may look like it’s an easy thing to steal for a few pounds but it can have a real impact on someone.”