A callous thief who stole the bike of a man visiting his injured partner at Lewisham Hospital has been jailed.

Chi Hung Sung, 40, of Stroud in Kent, had his bike stolen from outside Lewisham A&E after rushing to hospital to visit his injured partner.

After hearing his partner had hurt her knee in a fall, Mr Sung jumped on his bike and cycled from Shortlands to the hospital in a blind panic.

He left his black F95 Sora road bike chained up at around 6:30pm on August 16 last year.

After returning 15 minutes later, Mr Sung found that his bike had vanished and been replaced by a rusty old bike.

Mr Sung said: "I was absolutely devastated my bike was stolen that day, it was my pride and joy.

"I was already upset that my partner had been rushed to hospital and to come out and find that my bike had been stolen was the end to an already awful day."

CCTV footage was obtained by Lewisham Police which identified Peter O'Brien, 50, of Darrell Road in East Dulwich as the culprit.

O'Brien was seen making off with the bike after breaking the chain and stealing it.

He was sent to prison for 10 months on February 5 after pleading guilty to the theft of the bike.

Lewisham Hospital police liason officer Christine Barker said: "I am delighted we were able to trace O'Brien and as a result he was put before the courts where quite rightly he received a custodial sentence.

"The theft he committed had a huge impact on Chi who was already digesting the news his partner had been taken ill, only to find his bike had been stolen."

Mr Sung revealed that he has not received any repayment for his bike and was unable to recover the cost through insurance.

He added: "It was a great loss to me and whilst I have not been reimbursed financially, I am so grateful to Christine who thoroughly investigated my crime enabling this man to face prosecution.

"I hope it teaches him a lesson and it stops him reoffending."