A PARALYSED man was powerless to stop a thief who targeted him inside an art gallery.

The wheelchair user was trying to use the toilet at the Firstsite gallery in Colchester when the thief took advantage of his vulnerability and tried to make him stand up.

His disability meant he couldn’t - but the thief continued to take the victim’s mobile phone and wallet from his jacket pocket.

The wallet contained £25.

The thief also took the victim’s tracksuit top and bottoms which had been left in a carrier bag on the back of his wheelchair.

He put the jacket on before leaving.

Police have just released details of the incident which happened around 10pm last Wednesday March 8, after a film screening at the venue.

Firstsite director Sally Shaw said the gallery in Lewis Gardens was aware of the incident and it was co-operating with police.

However, incident details remain sketchy.

She added: “Some of my front of house staff came across two people in the toilet at the end of the evening.

“From what I’m told they knew each other.

“The staff ejected them from the building as they were causing a disruption.

“We have been working with the police and we will provide them with CCTV which I think shows them coming out of the building.

“We will do anything we can to help them find out what happened.”

Ms Shaw continued: “If we come across anything we think is detrimental to the public and visitors we ask people to leave and that’s what my staff saw.”

Essex Police confirmed Colchester CID is investigating.

Witnesses or anyone with information is urged to call 101.