Police criticised after "stolen" bike found

A man is lodging a formal complaint with West Mercia Police after the force failed to recover his moped, despite being given photos and addresses of the alleged thieves.

After getting no response from the police for four days, the man recovered it himself in an hour.

Rupert Parsons, a dentist from Malvern, Worcestershire, started to look for the Honda C90 at a nearby common after he was told motorbikes were sometimes raced there.

Parsons said: ” I was able to find my bike by knocking on a few doors and just asking around.

” Even though I showed the police pictures of the boys I thought were responsible, they just weren’t interested. ”

Although he recovered the bike, the repair bill for the damage will run to over £1000.

A spokeswoman from West Mercia Police said investigations into Mr Parson’s missing bike were continuing and it would not be appropriate to make any comment.