A teenager who spent all his savings on a moped had it stolen from underneath him when another rider took the keys from his ignition and a group of youths dragged him from his bike and launched a physical attack.

Dan Cotter, 17, was travelling along the A217 after visiting a friend and pulled up at the traffic lights past Tesco when another moped rider pulled up alongside him and whipped the keys out from the bike's ignition.

A group of around nine youths then came from behind Mr Cotter, pulled him on to the road and began kicking and hitting him and attempted to pull off his helmet.

He said: "One of them jumped on my bike and rode off. I can't begin to tell you how I feel, I am so shocked someone can do this and take away something that I have paid money for.

"I only bought my bike two weeks ago, it's worth about £1,000. I spent all my savings on it and could only afford third party insurance so now I can't afford another bike.

"I would hate for this to happen to anyone else so I want to warn other motorcyclists to be extra careful, especially if more than one bike pulls up alongside."

Mr Cotter, who lives in Carshalton, suffered an injured elbow when he was dragged to the ground during the attack, which happened at about 9.30pm on Saturday, August 5.

He managed to call for help at a friend's house who lives opposite where he was attacked.

"I didn't have a mobile phone with me so I called the police from my friend's house. One car drove past and beeped the horn but no one actually stopped," he said.

The suspect who stole the victim's keys is described as black and about 18 years old.

He wore a black crash helmet and rode a blue Italjet moped.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Constable Alan Bowers on 020 8649 0766 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Mr Cotter's bike was a blue Gilera Runner. The number plate was X723 WRG.

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