Motorcyclist 'bike-jacked' by screwdriver-wielding thieves

A BUSINESSMAN today described his terror at being "bike-jacked" by a pair of thugs wearing balaclavas who threatened him with a screwdriver before stealing his motorcycle.

The 55-year-old was driving his Yamaha TTR 250 (similar to the one pictured right) for the first time when he was followed by another motorcyclist and his passenger.

The motorcyclist rammed the victim's bike at traffic lights then ordered him to get off while an eight-inch screwdriver was thrust towards his chest. The victim, who asked not to be named, was targeted on the A6124 Chalkieside to Cousland road in East Lothian at around 2pm on Tuesday in one of the first cases of its kind in the Lothians.

The victim, who is from Edinburgh, said police later recovered the bike ridden by the thieves, which was also stolen, but his motorcycle remains missing.

He said: "I first noticed their bike about 100 metres behind me. We were on a quiet country road and when I stopped, their bike went through the red light at about 5mph. It was a rider with a pillion passenger on the back and the bike seemed to be a Suzuki Sports-type motorcycle.

"They were both wearing black balaclavas, not helmets, and my first thought was that they may be escaping from a robbery but they were going so slow.

"I went over Carberry Bridge and they were about 30 metres ahead. They were still going slowly and looking back over their shoulders.

"I didn't like the look of it so I decided to wait a few minutes for them to carry on. After a minute or two they came back round a corner and came straight for me.

"The pillion passenger jumped off and started jabbing a screwdriver towards my chest. The rider was shouting 'Get off the bike. Leave the engine running. Leave the keys'.

"I asked them to leave it, but the rider just stared at me for about five seconds through the balaclava. I decided it wasn't worth it and got off the bike. The pillion passenger got on and they both rode off.

"It was a surreal experience It was very eerie and absolutely frightening."

The victim, who owns a business consultancy firm, alerted police following the incident beside the entrance to Chalkieside Cottages.

He added: "I bought the bike for 1600 a couple of months ago. I had been working on it and this was my first time riding it. I had only been out for 30 minutes."

The first suspect, who was riding the motorcycle, is described as male, well-built, wearing a dirty white sweatshirt and speaking with a local accent.

The second suspect is described as male, 5ft 10in tall with a slim build and wearing a rusted-red coloured top.

Police said: "Anyone with information can contact police on 0131-311 3131, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."