A TEENAGE apprentice bricklayer was left distraught when his moped was stolen from his garden and later found wrecked.

Matthew Turner had only bought the Dealim moped in June after saving up to buy it so he could travel from his home in Sharples to his new job in Salford.

The 16-year-old is now worried about how he will get to work as there are no buses covering the route to his workplace from his Blackburn Road home.

The moped was taken from Matthew’s back garden where thieves cut the chain that was wrapped around it.

It was found two days later in the garden of a derelict house in Oldhams Estate, after being written off. The thieves had ripped off the front of the vehicle, to “hot-wire” the bike.

They also scratched it badly with a screwdriver.

Matthew said: “I have been quoted that it will cost about £1,000 to fix, which is £200 more than I paid for it in the first place. I am gutted.

“It is no use to me anymore and I am really worried about how I am going to get to work. My mum is off for two weeks and had been taking me in, but when she goes back to work I don’t know what I will do. I have only just started and want to make a good impression.

“There is no way I can afford another moped at the moment.”

Police said the moped was taken from the garden of the Blackburn Road property and that inquiries into the case were ongoing.

A police spokesman said: “No one has been arrested at this stage and anyone with information is urged to contact the police by calling 101.”