An Ayrshire dad who suffers from a heart condition was punched and had his five-year-old son’s ‘jimmy hat’ stolen after cheering on Scotland.
Stephen Girvan, 45, was heading home on his mobility scooter when two youths on bikes ambushed and assaulted him, snatching the sentimental bonnet.
The Prestwick dad who says he is a “heart attack waiting to happen” has been left disgusted by the vile attack on him after wearing the hat whilst he celebrated the national teams 3-2 win over Israel at a pub in the town.
Stephen lives with a host of health conditions including heart failure, painful arthritis that prevents him from walking and sleep apnoea which requires him to have a mask when sleeping.
His son, Cameron Alexander, is also disabled after being diagnosed with Craniosynostosis syndrome — a rare condition from when he was a baby, and has global development delay.
Stephen has told how the beloved now missing ‘jimmy hat’ belonged to Cameron and its theft has left him ‘devastated’.
He was heading along East Road before being approached by the youths with two boys on bikes and two girls on foot.
Speaking to Ayrshire Live, Stephen said: “I was on my way home, heading down East Road when I noticed two girls and two guys, the guys were on bikes.
“They were standing on the corner and they asked me to stop.
“I never thought anything of it, it’s quite an attractive scooter, it's a Harley Davidson one and it gets a lot of attention.
“Next thing I know, the two boys have cycled up behind me, and stolen my hat, they have punched me whilst trying to take the hat then cycled off.”
Stephen frantically tried to find the youths and took a video while out searching on the cold wet night, but lost the callous group at Moor Park Place.
Footage shows how he catches up with two girls who when asked by Stephen “who were the two guys on the bike?”, one replies “my pals” and the other replies, “none of your business.”
Stephen has now launched a desperate appeal to trace the hat and wants others to be aware of how damaging a theft of something can be.
He said: “It is disgusting to steal off someone who is on a mobility scooter, (those youths) should be ashamed of themselves.
“They don’t realise how upset they have made me. That hat brings my son so much joy, he loves wearing it and I was wearing it to have a wee boogie and cheer on Scotland.
“My son has had a hard start in life with his disabilities so when I am with him I just dress up and have a laugh with him.
“I don’t know how long I’ve got left so the jimmy hat is just part of the fun we share.”
Stephen joked, “At least it wasn’t my Red Indian chief hat, that cost a hundred quid.”
Police have launched an appeal into the assault and robbery.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing into a report of an assault and theft of a hat from a man at East Road in Prestwick, near Moor Park during the evening of Saturday, 9 October."
“Anyone with information can call 101, quoting incident 3515 of 13 October.”
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