A KIND-HEARTED pensioner has stepped forward to help a woman whose mobility scooter was destroyed by vandals.

Eileen Marsh, 72, was one of three people in Rochester targeted by the thieves on Friday, March 9.

The scooters were taken from outside their homes on the Foord Almhouses private estate, in Abbotts Close, and smashed up.

The yobs tried to hotwire one of them but when that failed they broke into a shed and stole tools to attack the scooters. All three, worth about £1,000 each, were completely destroyed.

Joyce Dixon, of King George Road, Walderslade, Chatham, read about the crime in the Medway Messenger on Monday last week and decided she wanted to help Eileen. She called the Medway Messenger and has given Eileen her old scooter.

Joyce, 76, said: "I think it is absolutely disgusting that vulnerable people have been targeted in this way. I was bought a new scooter by my children, so I had a spare one at home.

"I have tried to sell it but without any success. I prefer to give it away to somebody who needs it, rather than sell it."

Eileen relied on her scooter to get out and was not able to afford a new one. She suffers from arthritis and has a pacemaker, and had only just come out of hospital after an operation the day before the vandalism.

She says she is thrilled by this act of kindness from a stranger.

She added: “It was devastating to see the scooters destroyed, but I’m absolutely delighted to be given this one."

“It has been very difficult to get out and about over the last week but now I will be able to get my independence back.”

If you any information about the vandalism, contact Medway Police on 01634 891055 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.