David Hames, 33, returned after a few days away to his home on York Road, Gipton, on Wednesday last week to find his car and his home had been broken into.
The former corporal in the Royal Engineers went inside to find someone had “completely ransacked” his property and had stolen a number of high value items. His Christmas tree had been snapped in half and his military medals were thrown around the room.
But the most upsetting theft was his blue Yamaha R6. Mr Hames, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said: “As soon as I saw that the bike had gone my heart sank. I wasn’t bothered about the rest being taken but my bike means so much to me.”
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The motorcycle holds sentimental value for Mr Hames, who has sprayed the Help for Heroes emblem on the fuel tank and the side fairings as a tribute to the charity. The organisation has provided him with financial support in getting his qualifications to become a personal trainer after he retired from the services with a leg injury.
PC Andy Storey, of Leeds North East Neighbourhood Patrol Team, said: “This burglary has understandably come as a real blow to the victim. It has deprived him of his prized motorbike which was helping to give him some freedom and independence following his injury.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact PC 0907 Storey via 101 quoting crime number 13160725085.