AN angry 12-year-old girl whose mum is being treated in a hospice today condemned the thieves who stole her dad's bike. Rhian Wright,a pupil at Copleston High School, wrote an emotional open letter to the culprits in a bid to prick their conscience into returning the bike.

AN angry 12-year-old girl whose mum is being treated in a hospice today condemned the thieves who stole her dad's bike.

Rhian Wright,a pupil at Copleston High School, wrote an emotional open letter to the culprits in a bid to prick their conscience into returning the bike.

In the letter Rhian said the day before the bike was stolen the family had taken her mother into a hospice for respite care.

The letter said: “One of the bikes you tried to steal was hers, a brand new bike, bought for her birthday a year ago, but due to her health, she had not yet ever ridden it.”

The bike was later found near to the family's home in Britannia Road, Ipswich, leaving Dad Steve Wright's bike still missing.

Rhian added: “The other bike was my dad's. His bike was his transport to and from work, he now has to leave 35 minutes earlier than usual, and cannot have the extra time with me and my sister.”

Speaking directly to the offenders Rhian said: “I hope you are happy with yourselves for what you have done.”

Mr Wright, a kitchen porter said his daughter had been left saddened by the theft of his bike, a £200 blue and silver Dakota Ridge mountain bike.

The 54-year-old said: “Rhian wrote because she was so upset. It has made life very difficult. I have to go and see my wife Michelle in the hospice and look after my two daughters. It means I take more time getting to and from work.

“Maybe there is someone out there who knows something. The police have done door-to-door enquiries but it seems there isn't much else they can do. Perhaps someone has suddenly got a bike like the one I had stolen.”

Anyone with any information should contact Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

To the person who broke into our garage on Britannia Road on Tuesday the 17th of April and stole my parents mountain bikes.

I bet when you broke into our property, you gave little thought to whose property you were breaking into, or the circumstances of that family, oh no, you did not care, well let me tell you.

That day we had taken my mum into the hospice for respite care. By the way one of the bikes you tried to steal was hers, a brand new bike, bought for her birthday a year ago, but due to her health, she had not yet ever ridden.

The other bike was my Dad's. His bike was his transport to and from work, he now has to 35 minutes earlier than usual, and cannot have the extra time with me and my sister.

You dumped my Mum's bike, mainly because the tyres were not inflated and it was probably difficult for you to move.

I hope that you feel pleased for adding to what is already a stressful time for us,

Rhian

Age 12