Aspiring footballer whose bike was stolen as he trained at Portman Road is shocked at generous gesture by Halford’s in Ipswich

Dimitri Gayle had his bike stolen days after he got it for his Birthday. Halfords replaced the bike free of charge. Dimitri is pictured with his new bike in Ipswich. (Image: Archant)

That was the assessment of one member of staff at Halfords in Ipswich after they saved one youngster’s birthday from being one to forget.

Dimitri Gayle, 11, had owned his brand new bicycle for just four days when it was stolen while he was at a football training session in Portman Road.

The devastated football fanatic had been given the special present for his 11th birthday and was left distraught when it was taken.

But thanks to the generosity of the team at Halfords in London Road, Dimitri was surprised with a brand new replacement free of charge.

“He uses the bike for school and football,” dad Roy, 28, said.

“I was more than impressed and grateful – I just couldn’t believe a company could do that!”

The family had posted a message on Facebook asking if anyone had seen it, and after several people shared the post, it came by way of Halfords cycle technician Stewart Miller.

“I knew we could help and do a deal, and sort something out,” he said. “But I thought, it’s no skin off our back so we gave it to him.

“There aren’t enough nice things that happen in the world so we thought it’s the right thing to do.”

Delighted Dimitri was surprised at the beginning of the month when the family took him to the store to pick up the replacement, and found out it had all been sorted.

“His face was sheer pleasure when he picked it up,” Mr Gayle said.

“He was gobsmacked because they are not obliged to do that, so we are really appreciative to Halfords.”

Mr Miller added: “It’s nice when people don’t expect that and there’s a real feel-good factor to it. He was blown away by it!”