People power has put the smile back on the face of a disabled pensioner and recovered his electric wheelchair stolen by young tearaways two weeks ago.

The wheelchair belonging to 71-year-old Ken Corbett, disappeared from his driveway at Woodbridge Avenue, Leatherhead, while he was at his grand daughter’s birthday party with his wife.

Mr Corbett’s son, Gari, 40, decided to print 150 leaflets after the theft and distributed them around the neighbourhood, in the hope someone would have information on the whereabouts of the wheelchair.

He said: “Within about half and hour a lady phoned up to say that she saw two boys playing with it outside OneStop. Seven other people phoned up and said the same thing.

“People were phoning up to say they were really upset to hear about it. We were very upset because my father relies on this wheelchair to do everything.

“He always used to leave it in his driveway so he could get out of his car into the chair. He did that for years and it was fine.”

But thanks to a brave neighbour, the pensioner recovered his wheelchair and his independence.

Gari Corbett who is a hairdresser from Thames Ditton, said: “A man who lives around the corner had it in his garage and brought it here for us.

"He saw two boys playing with it by the railway line.

He accosted them, took it back and took it to his garage.

"That was a very brave thing to do, because you don’t know how kids are going to react these days.”

His father used to help out teaching wood work at All Saints Primary School for many years and is well-known in the area.

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: “Officers are pursuing CCTV opportunities, regarding this incident, which took place on Wednesday 28 October, and are keeping the elderly gentleman informed.”

Anyone with information should contact Surrey Police on 0845 1252222.

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