A little girl was left devastated after thieves stole her Christmas present before she even had the chance to ride it.

Teigan Solomon’s dad Lee had built the mountain bike and padlocked it to a rail in the stairwell of flats where her mum lives.

Father and daughter went out to visit friends on Boxing Day and when they returned to the block, Hendry House in Chattenden, the following morning it had gone.

Mr Solomon, 35, reported the theft to the police, searched the neighbourhood and even went to a pawn shop to see if anyone had tried to sell it.

He said Teigan, seven, was in tears.

Mr Solomon, of Thames Terrace, Cliffe, said: “We had been so busy going to see our families over Christmas and she was looking forward to having her first go on it on the Thursday.

"She could not believe somebody would have done something like that.”

After posting a message on Facebook, a friend of mum Mikayla, 32, who is separated from her husband, felt sorry for Teigan and bought her a replacement.

Sky engineer Lee said: “It has really bought out the worst and best of human nature. Somebody out there must know where it is.

"It’s likely they may have sold it for drugs. You don’t just arrive home from a night out with a bike.

“Teigan has now got another bike, but it spoiled her Christmas and she’s worried that somebody might take her new one.

"It’s not a nice way to remember Christmas this year.

“There are very contrasting people out there unfortunately.

"But no matter where these people, or this person, is...you cannot out run karma.

"It will catch up with them one day hopefully soon.

"It’s not about the money or the bike, it's the principle of what they’ve done to a seven-year-old who believes in the magic of Christmas.”

Police spokesman Vicki Foster, said: "We received a call at 1.40pm on December 27, 2018 to a report of a child’s bicycle having been reported stolen from a communal stairwell in Elmwood Road, Chattenden.

"Inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing."

Anyone with information is asked to call 01634 227803.