A Brixington mum battling depression was dealt a bitter blow when callous thieves trashed her vital transport lifeline.

Police are appealing for witnesses after Helen Wilson, 34, from Thomas Close, returned from a birthday celebration to collect her Yamaha 50cc - only to find that bungling thieves had damaged it after attempting to steal it.

Helen, who lost her partner five years ago, her step mother on Christmas Day two years later and her uncle soon after, said that her moped had helped her get her life back together after previously being unable to leave her home.

Last Friday night (August 5) she had left her moped behind a locked gate in the back garden of her friends’ house in Forton Road so she could celebrate her brother Kingsley’s birthday.

When she returned on Sunday August 7 she found the back gate forced and the moped lying on its side on the front driveway with smashed lights, a damaged fuel tank leaking petrol on the ground.

The moped was judged to be a write-off and while the insurance company agreed to pay out Helen does not know when she will be able to afford the �150 excess.

She said: “I haven’t been able to work and the bus is so expensive, and it was absolutely vital to me.

“I was really struggling with depression and the anxiety meant it was difficult to go out.

“I’ve been slowly trying to get my life back together and the moped was part of it – it meant I could go shopping and helped me to be independent.

“I was hoping to start some volunteer work once the summer holidays were over and Kyle (her son) was back at school.

“Now I don’t know when I will be able to afford to get another moped. I’ve had an awful few years and now this.”

PC Simon Blyth said: “Clearly someone tried to steal the moped but this bike has a steering lock so they dragged it a short distance, damaged it and left it.”

The damage was caused between 1am on August 5 and 2pm on August 6. You can call anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting crime reference number KE/11/2110.