A callous thief broke into a disabled man’s locker and stole cash and valuables while he was swimming to improve his spinal injury.

Neil Horne was swimming at Huddersfield Sports Centre pool when he returned and found it had been forced open and his wallet and smart phone and jacket.

Mr Horne, 54, said: “I had been in the pool and got out and found the lock had been forced and my valuables removed.

“I put a towel round me and went and told the leisure centre office and waited 20 minutes before a male attendant came down.

“I was then told it’s nothing to do with them and I would have to talk to the police.

“I said its difficult since I now didn’t have a phone.

“I was allowed to use the office phone and two police officers came down and spoke to me.”

But Mr Horne, who suffers from spinal problems, felt insulted when he claims staff at the pool said he had to pay for a new swim card.

“It is ludicrous that I have to pay the Leisure Centre themselves for a new swimming card, even though it was stolen from the premises.

“I had to pay to swim, pay to secure my items and now pay to replace them.”

Inspector Danny Groiser of the Huddersfield South NPT, said “Police were called at about 12.40pm on Thursday February 13 by a caller reporting possessions had been stolen from a locker he was using at Huddersfield Sports Centre.

“The victim reported that items including a smartphone, tablet computer and a Superdry branded jacket had been taken after someone had forced entry to the locker between 11.50am and 12.54pm.

“Anyone who saw someone stealing items from the victim’s locker or other suspicious activity in the locker room at the sports centre between 11.50am and 12.54pm is asked to contact the Huddersfield South NPT on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

A spokeswoman for Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL) which runs the sports centre, said: “A customer recently reported that their locker had been broken into and their possessions taken. Following this report KAL staff followed protocol and the police were asked to attend the scene.

“We have since offered him a FREE KAL card. The police then took the matter over.”

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