A kind city businessman has stepped in to help a deaf carer after his lifeline bike was stolen by a heartless thief.
The company boss, who wants to remain anonymous, read about Kris Collar's plight in the ECHO and said he was "shocked" at what had happened.
Serial crook Carl Dingle pinched the cycle as carer Kris Collar was at work helping people with physical and mental impairments.
The 40-year-old needed the bike to travel from his home in St Helens to Winsford, Cheshire, where he assists vulnerable patients, who are also hard of hearing.
The cycle was a gift using money left by Mr Collar's late dad Michael before he died last September following cancer and two strokes and so also had sentimental value.
However today, the businessman, from Liverpool, promised to stump up the cash so the dad-of-four can purchase a new one.
The entrepreneur told the ECHO: "I'd not long read the story in the ECHO, and was driving past Edge Lane, and saw Halfords.
"I thought that I'd send Kris the money for a new bike.
"If he goes and chooses one himself, I'll do the honours."
The businessman, from Huyton, said it was "nice to be nice."
And he added: "The area has been good to me, I've had a firm in the city for 30 years.
"I started on the £40-a-week scheme brought in by Margaret Thatcher.
"I'm not one for the limelight, but something like this is not an issue."
Zoe Collar-Harrison, Kris' sister, said: "It's amazing.
"I'm absolutely blown away, I can't believe somebody would be so kind and do this.
"It's fantastic."
Despite 35-year-old Dingle being recently jailed for eight weeks for a spate of crimes - some at supermarkets and two bike thefts, including the offence against Mr Collar - he has refused to disclose what he did with the cycle.
The Cheshire thief's actions meant Mr Collar has been undertaking longer and more expensive daily journey into work, getting buses to Liverpool, before catching a train to Northwich.
Family members have stressed to Mr Collar for him to wear gloves and a mask when on public transport, using sign language, or by him lip-reading.
On the day in question, when he briefly left his work premises to check on his bike, it had gone.
A check on CCTV showed Dingle caught in the act, as police officers commented how they clearly recognised the well-known criminal.
The businessman added: "It's sad somebody would do such a thing, but Liverpool is one of those areas tat pulls together in these types of situations.
"The lad[Kris] is having a go, and he's got his own disability, while working his hardest to help other people.
"For somebody to do this, it's just not right."
