Tragic firefighter's family theft

Richard Jenkins used his bike to get to work on the day he died

The parents of a firefighter killed on duty are appealing for thieves to return his stolen bicycle.

Richard Jenkins, 28, Bryntirion, Bridgend, died in 2004 when a gas canister exploded in a disused hall in Cardiff which had been set alight.

He was a keen cyclist and his parents stored his bike with the hope of passing it on to his son.

His mother Sandie also from Bryntirion, said the theft left her family feeling "violated".

"The bike was the last thing Rich rode to work," she said.

"We were rather hoping to keep it, or maybe give it to his son when he is old enough.

I just feel invaded - it was just a little something of Rich that we had left Sandie Jenkins

"It was a keepsake - we can't have Rich back but it personified him as a fit and healthy young man.

"I'm still angry about what happened to him - it should never have happened. And this has just left me feeling violated."

Mrs Jenkins said the bike had been taken apart and kept in a storage shed following his death in May 2004.

On Saturday morning, she noticed the shed door was open and discovered that parts of the bike had been taken along with other items.

"It won't be much use to the thief because they left behind the saddle and one of the wheels," she said.

"I just feel invaded - it was just a little something of Rich that we had left."

Mrs Jenkins added: "I just hope the thieves will find it in themselves to return it."

Guilty of manslaughter

Mr Jenkins was a firefighter based at Barry for 18 months after joining the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in 2002.

He was the first firefighter to enter a disused bingo hall in Ely on 23 May 2004 which had been deliberately set alight.

He suffered massive head and facial injuries when a gas canister exploded.

He left a widow, Catherine, and two young children, Conor and Charlotte.

Two men, Christopher Raisis and Jamie Evans, were jailed for 10 years after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Jenkins.

Along with a third man Craig Sterio, who was jailed for four years, they were also guilty of witness intimidation, robbery and causing actual bodily harm.