A DISABLED man has been left heartbroken after he had thousands of pounds worth of specialist tools and car parts stolen.

David Murphy, 34, can’t now finish restoring his Mini, which had already taken him three years, having taken up the hobby of restoring classic cars after becoming disabled.

David became paraplegic eight years ago after a freak motorbike accident which saw his bike catch fire. He lost control and broke his back and neck in four places.

With his life completely changed, he had lost interest in everything, until three years ago when he gave himself a project to restore the car.

He worked out how to use specialist tools despite his disability at his mother’s house in Eastley, Basildon, and had almost finished the car.

David, who lives in Gifford Green, Pitsea, said: “It’s so disappointing. Since my bike accident the only real hobby has been working on my car.

“Everything I have was in the garage and someone has taken it all.

“The tools were just tools, but without them I can’t do anything else. Some of the parts were quite unique, because I made them myself.

“I had done everything from restoring bodywork, painting it, rebuilding the engine and was in the process of working on the auto transmission. I was going to put a modern engine in it, but now I can’t do anything.”

Among the items stolen were a drill, sander, modified headlights, tool chest, an air compressor and alternators.

Essex Police are urging anyone with information about the incident, which took place between 9pm on Wednesday, September 4, and 9.50am on Friday, September 6, to call 101.