A PENSIONER is offering a £1,000 reward to catch a thief who snatched five times that amount from his jacket pocket.

Tony Hickson, 80, of New Dover Road, Canterbury, who uses a motorised chair to get about, had withdrawn the money from Lloyds TSB in High Street but it had gone by the time he reached home.

Now he is warning others to stay alert when making large cash withdrawals from banks.

He said: "I would never have dreamed this kind of thing could happen.

"I did not feel anything on the way home but I had my jacket undone and was concentrating on the journey home on my motorised chair."

Mr Hickson – who has his great dane Daisy with him at all times when out on his chair - said the money was part of a £7,000 withdrawal intended for his daughter.

The remaining £2,000 was in an inside pocket.

He added: "I will be more careful in future. People need to take care and I am offering £1,000 to anyone who can give any information that leads to the culprit being caught."

Anyone with information should call police on 01227 762055.