Stolen bike anguish for girlfriend of Hampshire cyclist killed in race

The girlfriend of a cyclist killed in a crash during a race in Hampshire last year has spoken of her anguish after a bicycle he bought her so she could share his passion for riding was stolen.

Richard Phillips-Schofield, a police constable with Hampshire Constabulary, died in March last year two days after crashing while taking part in a race on the closed road track at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth.

An experienced cyclist, the 33-year-old had won two gold medals at the World Police & Fire Games in Belfast in 2013, and following his death his colleagues said that cycling was his “main passion.”

The Daily Echo reports that last week, five bicycles were stolen in a spate of thefts ay several properties on Pitmore Road, Allbrook.

Among those stolen was a mountain bike that Mr Phillips-Schofield had given his girlfriend of six years, Hannah Chalk, taken from a shed at her home.

She told the newspaper that he had bought her the blue Cannondale F700 bike in January 2012 to enable them to go out riding together and share his love of cycling.

Miss Chalk told the newspaper that although she has not been able to face riding the bike since his death, she is desperate to retrieve it because “It signifies our years together. It’s just so special.”

She continued: “I don’t know if I would ever ride it because of what’s happened, but I wanted to have it there and look at it. Everything’s been taken away and it’s just another thing.

“I know it’s just a bike but it’s so hard to live with what’s happened.”

According to the newspaper, Miss Chalk is hopeful that appealing for the bikes return will either cause the thief to examine their conscience, or will lead to someone who may have purchased it to come forward.

“I just feel really angry with myself because absolutely everything that has any connection with Rich is just the most important thing that I own and to somebody else that means absolutely nothing,” she added.

“Rich being a policeman was always saying to me, ‘Are you sure your bike’s safe?’ I just hope these people know cruel it is what they have done.

“People have no idea what they can do to somebody when somebody loses someone and they take something away that’s got such a lot of memories attached, it’s just so unfair.

“He was just so amazing, I just absolutely loved him more than anything – I just miss him so much.”

Eastleigh Police are appealing for anyone who has information regarding the series of thefts, which took place between 14 and 18 January, to get in touch on 101 or to call the charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.