Colchester teen had bike stolen by gang of thugs in city centre

Saskia Stickings, 18, was locking her bike with a ‘D’ lock in Queen Street on Sunday evening before she was surrounded by six males who remarked “that’s a nice looking bike”.

The gang then snatched the bike, which is an electric Claude Butler Glide, before riding off at about 9.15pm on Sunday evening.

Miss Stickings’s mother, Mari Keskula, said her daughter had been left distraught by the incident and worried if she would ever see her bike again.

She said: “She went to Queen Street to get a kebab, and these guys came up to her and said ‘that’s a nice looking bike isn’t it?’ and they yanked it off her as she was locking it onto the bike rack.

“To take it right off someone like that is bang out of order – they just stole it off her and then split up.

“She’s 5ft 9ins, so she’s not a small kid, but she’s completely distraught.”

Stolen – Saskia Stickings had her bike stolen at 9.10pm on Sunday when she was in Queen Street, Colchester (Image: Google Street View)

Mrs Keskula, of Mersea Road, said the bike is vital for her daughter because she has a skin condition which prevents her from walking long distances.

She added: “She can’t walk far – that bike is her means of getting around.

“I got it as a present; brand new, it’s worth more than £3,000.”

Mrs Keskula, 42, said she drove to pick up her daughter and was furious about how serious the incident had been.

She said: “I told her I would come and get her because I didn’t want her to walk home after that.

“I’m a nurse, a single mum, and brought her up on my own – if I could get hold of these people…

“Anything could have happened – it could have gone the other way very quickly.”

Mrs Keskula added her daughter had seen the gang of males in the city centre before.

“Saskia works in McDonald’s and she’s seen the boys before, so she’s locked it with two ‘D’ locks.

Fuming – Mari Keskula said she was furious with the gang who had stolen her daughter's bike (Image: Mari Keskula)

“It’s more than a bike for her – it gets her from A to B every day.

What Essex Police said...

Essex Police said in an official statement the man who stole the bike was 5ft 9ins, and they have urged witnesses to get in touch.

A spokesman said: "We have received a report of the theft of a bike from a woman in Colchester between 9-10pm yesterday (Sunday 11 February).

"The victim reported that a group of people walked towards her as she was about to lock her bike in Queen Street.

"One of the group, described as a white man, around 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build and with short brown hair, grabbed the handle bars and walked off with the bike.

"The others are believed to have walked towards the nearby underpass.

"The bike is described as an electric bike and said to be worth £2,000.

"Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to get in touch.

"You can let us know by submitting a report on our website or by using our online Live Chat service available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm.

"Alternatively, you can call us on 101. Please quote reference number 42/23053/24.

"In an emergency always call 999."