Cyclist says wallet was stolen as he lay unconscious in road

A cyclist from Brighton who spent two weeks in hospital after crashing on his bike says that his wallet was stolen as he lay in the road.

Ashwin Levy, aged 28, also believes his bike lights were taken while he was unconscious, although police have said they have no active lines of enquiry, reports the Argus.

Mr Levy was riding to work at Sainsbury’s on the morning of Monday 20 July when his brakes failed as he rode down the steep hill of Bear Road in the rain.

He attempted to turn into a side road to slow down but crashed, telling the newspaper: “When I made that right turn, that was it – that was all I remember. I didn’t really know what had happened to me.”

Mr Levy sustained fractures to his eye socket, cheek, jaw and collarbone and a broken kneecap and was knocked unconscious in the incident.

Later that day, his family visited him in hospital, which is when it was discovered that his wallet was missing, as well as his bike lights.

None of those items were listed on the property report sheet completed by paramedics who treated him at the scene.

“I’m just shocked that the only two valuable things I had on me were taken,” he said. “All I had were a bicycle lock, wallet, name badge and pen.”

The suspected theft was reported to police the following day, but despite someone who lives by the scene and who took care of the cyclist’s bike after the crash saying he saw a woman approach Mr Levy, police say they have no leads.

Mr Levy was particularly upset at losing a memento of his late father, explaining: "My father died last year of cancer. He didn’t have many things but appointed me as the executor of his will.

"I kept his old bank card in my wallet. It was cancelled last year so it was just a keep-sake.

"I know it’s a silly thing but it is of sentimental value."

Anyone with information is requested to call Sussex Police on 101, quoting crime reference number 47150098736.