A DISABLED veteran has condemned the 'despicable' thief who broke into his house while he was asleep and stole his car.

Alan Newnes, aged 84, who relies on an electric wheelchair to get around is now effectively house-bound after his black Renault Clio was stolen from the driveway of his bungalow in Sudgrove Close, Blackpole, Worcester.

The burglar broke into his home through a window in what he calls his piano room in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mr Newnes, an RAF veteran who served in Egypt in the 1950s, was asleep in the house when the thief broke in and stole his car and house keys which he had left on a windowsill before making a getaway in his vehicle.

The car (registration AG07 PCY) also contained his two walking sticks and dog food for his twelve-year-old Dalmatian, Raffles. A neighbour has since gone out to collect his shopping for him as Mr Newnes cannot walk to the shops unaided, struggling even to walk to his car.

The widower suffers from spinal stenosis and has had a heart valve replaced. He is forced to lean on the trolley for support for any trips to the supermarket.

He said: "My car is crucial to my independence. I use it for my shopping. It would not have done any good if I had found them in the act. They might have been dangerous. It makes life rather difficult without a car. It takes me a long time to do simple jobs.

"It would be nice if someone saw the car and reported it to police. I want the car back because you always lose out on insurance.

"I think it's despicable. They know I can't move. There's even a disabled badge in the car and my two walking sticks."

His dog, who sleeps on his bed, woke him at around 3am, nudging him and looking at him.

When he checked the rooms everything seemed in order (although he did not check the front rooms). Next morning he found his door wide open and called West Mercia Police. He believes the thief broke in through a window and left by the door.

Mr Newnes said he always checked all doors and windows were closed and locked before he went to bed.

He added: "I think the dog scared them off. Far more than my keys would have been stolen if not for the dog."

He wished to thank the officers from CID who attended his address to look for evidence and replaced his locks.

Mr Newnes served his country with the Royal Air Force between 1951 and 1953 and was based at Ismailia, working as a wireless operator and later as a pilot, braving enemy sniper fire. Those with information can contact West Mercia Police on 101, quoting incident reference 22CA-58192B-16.