Man in wheelchair robbed by duo

Patrick Lunney said he was glad he was attacked, not someone else

A man in a wheelchair has spoken of his anger at being robbed by two men who threatened him with a knife.

Patrick Lunney, 51, an amputee, had his wallet stolen in the attack outside a cinema in Wantage, Oxfordshire.

The assault, on Wednesday afternoon, would have been witnessed by several people, police said.

"Why pick on a disabled person, or any person, for what bit of money they get. It's ridiculous" he told BBC News.

I would hate to think if it had been an old lady who was trying to hang on to her handbag, what would have happened to her? Patrick Lunney

"I was coming home from the town centre in my electric wheelchair when from nowhere [two men], one with a knife towards my face and one with his arm round my neck, demanded my wallet," he said.

He said he gave it to them straight away because he was "in no position to fight them".

He added: "Within about 10 seconds it was all over. They disappeared down a little lane and I went straight to the police station.

Mr Lunney said he was glad he was targeted instead of someone else.

Town centre busy

"I'm glad that I had the presence of mind to actually hand over my wallet," he continued.

"I would hate to think if it had been an old lady who was trying to hang on to her handbag, what would have happened to her?

"I just hope these people are caught."

The men are described as black and the main offender was 5ft 10in, of medium build, with a flat nose and was wearing a grey hooded top and white bottoms.

Det Sgt Chris Biddle, of Thames Valley Police, appealed for witnesses, and said: "This part of Wantage would have been very busy around the time of the incident with people leaving work or shopping."