A DISABLED Kidderminster man has been left virtually housebound following the theft of his sixth specially adapted bicycle in five years.

Ryan Webb, 27, of Grosvenor Avenue, ruptured several discs in his back more than five years ago and since then has been unable to pursue his chosen career as an engineer and relies upon a bicycle with modified saddle, seat bar and extra suspension to get around.

Mr Webb, who lives with his parents, said without his bike he had to walk with the aid of a walking stick and was unable to travel very far.

He said his injuries had forced him into a wheelchair for some months and he had taken up cycling because the exercise, on a modified bike, was beneficial and because cycling allowed him to get around which he couldn't otherwise manage.

He said: "I am angry. Since my injury I'm not able to do anything, bend, lift or pick up anything. If I go out without a bike I have to use a walking stick."

In the latest incident, a bicycle specially modified by Mr Webb and worth around £1,000, was stolen on Sunday, June 17 from outside Dillons, Comberton Hill.

Mr Webb said he had been unable to lock the bike and had just "popped in" to the newsagents, but came out minutes later to find it had been ridden away.

His previous bicycle, also worth around £1,000, was stolen in April 1999. Four other bicycles, worth between £600 and £1,000, have been stolen since his injury in 1995.

Mr Webb said he had bought the latest bike with money from his disability allowance and with the help of his parents and all his money was now gone.

He added he had another, cheaper, bike, worth around £600, but had been waiting three months to get special parts for it to enable him to use it.

These were proving difficult to obtain and if he wasn't able to get these, he would be forced to buy another much more expensive bike, he said.