A terminally ill Catford man is practically housebound after the mobility scooter he relies on to go to hospital appointments was stolen last week.

Andy Constantinou, 63, of Nyon Grove, has been told he has two months to live after 35 years of heart problems which have caused eight heart attacks.

He also has an incurable lung disease, diabetes and is on 24-hour oxygen, and the scooter he had was set up so he could drive it straight into the specially adapted car he needs to travel with his oxygen supply.

Mr Constantinou told News Shopper: “Without it I can’t do anything. That scooter is a lifeline.

“I was furious that people can do this sort of thing. It is a shock that people could do that but that is the way the world has become.

“My wife of 42 years struggles every day to look after me.”

His wife Iliatha Constantinou, 60, known by friends and family as Ellie, is also registered disabled after cracking three vertebrae 11 years ago and suffering with spinal problems ever since.

She also has a benign but inoperable brain tumour which has been growing for 15 years and must be regularly monitored.

Mrs Constantinou woke up on Friday morning and when she took the rubbish out she noticed the scooter was missing from its place in front of the house.

She said: “We can’t leave the house without it.

“People don’t think about what they are doing, that this is the only way he can get around.”

News Shopper:

Andy's wife Iliatha takes care of him despite her own health problems

The scooter was kept in front of the house for ease of access to the adapted car.

Mrs Constantinou says she fears she and her husband were targeted for their vulnerability as some odd-job men knocked on her door the previous day.

She told them she and her husband were disabled and couldn't afford to spend money on having work done.

She says: “Andy has a pacemaker – but it’s not working properly anymore.

“He’s very poorly, always in and out of hospital and he doesn’t need this extra stress.

“He’s already depressed about having to leave us all.

“He may only have a month or two left.”

He has an old scooter that he’s using in the meantime, but it doesn’t support his weight of over 18 stone and he needs to have a way to get around as he is is on the cusp of starting end-of-life care.

His daughter-in-law Nicola Sullivan, 34, who lives in Purley, told News Shopper that Mr Constantinou’s lung has collapsed and his organs are beginning to shut down.

She said: “Both Andy and Ellie are severely disabled and they’re now completely housebound.

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“This has affected their lives dramatically.

“He’s already been passed over to palliative care and what these people have done is sick and disgusting.”

His family members have shared the story on social media with a small group of friends who have started to donate money to replace Mr Constantinou’s wheels.

He said: “People have come forward that I hardly know who know my friends and family – and that really restores your belief in people.

“It could cost up to £4,000 but we’ll try to get a second-hand one for around £1,600.

“Most of them only carry up to 18 stone and I’m a little larger than that – but still good looking.

“If I wasn’t remarkably positive I wouldn’t be here today.

“The love of my family and all these other people negates the evil things other people do.”

The scooter was a metallic red Shoprider Deluxe with a black seat, four wheels and a basket on the front.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the theft took place between 11pm on April 21 and 8am on April 22.

Lewisham Police are urging any witnesses or anyone with information to contact them on 101 quoting reference 3209276/16.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.