When bookmaker David Lomas saw one of his oldest customers robbed of his pension he had to help.

Mr Lomas, who manages three Ladbrokes shops in Huddersfield, said he felt sick when he heard that 82-year-old Leonard had been pick-pocketed.

The pensioner, a regular at Ladbrokes, Upperhead Row, was robbed of £300 by two suspects at Super News at Huddersfield Bus Station, on March 1.

Now Mr Lomas has launched a fundraiser to replace the stolen cash.

Mr Lomas said Leonard entered the Upperhead Row bookies in an agitated state after feeling someone rifle through his pockets.

He said: “I asked what was wrong with him and he said he’d been pick-pocketed for his pension.

“He felt someone trying to get access to it.

Huddersfield Bus Station

“He was very shaken up by it.

“He didn’t have a penny left on him.”

Mr Lomas went into Super News to examine the newsagent’s CCTV.

He said: “I watched the footage and you can see it done. It’s absolutely disgusting.

“It’s bad enough when it happens to someone young but to an 82-year-old man, it just turns your stomach.”

Mr Lomas has now set up a webpage where the public can donate money to replace Leonard’s stolen pension.

Manager of Ladbrokes bookmakers on Upperhead Row, Huddersfield David Lomas, who along with staff has organised an appeal to raise money for an 80 year old customer who was victim of pick pockets near to the betting office.

The fundraiser was inspired by the story of Gateshead pensioner Alan Barnes.

Partially-sighted Mr Barnes, who stands just 4ft 6in tall, suffered a broken collarbone when he was attacked by a drug-user outside his home in January 2015.

A fundraiser, which originally aimed to raise £500 for Mr Barnes, raised £330,000.

Mr Lomas said: “We want to show there is human kindness and raise some money.

“We wanted to restore a bit of faith in humanity and show that people care.”

You can donate to Leonard’s cause by visiting: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/david-lomas.

Officers are hoping to speak to a man and a woman they believe have information about the incident.

One of the men police would like to speak to in connection with a theft at Huddersfield Bus Station

PC Caroline Loran said: “This was a terrible incident where suspects stole money from an elderly pensioner which has been very distressing for him.

“If anyone has any information about this incident or noticed anything suspicious at the bus station on the day, please contact me via 101 quoting reference 13160091431 to assist with our enquiries.”

In unrelated investigations, police would like to speak to the people pictured in the image gallery below. The people pictured in the images may be witnesses as well as suspects. If you recognise anyone, contact police on 101 quoting the reference number on the image caption.