A GWENT motocross champion had two valuable scrambler bikes stolen from his garage in two months.

Lorry driver Jerry Adams, 43, a veteran motocross and enduro rider, was devastated when his two-year-old Honda off-road bike was stolen along with helmets and equipment in April.

Mr Adams, of Pontrhydyrun, Cwmbran, borrowed another Honda bike from a friend so he could continue his passion for off-road racing. But two weeks later the second bike was stolen in another raid on his garage.

Now the father of four, who is top of the veterans championship table in the Cotswolds Enduro Club, is unable to carry on the sport he loves. "The bikes were uninsured so I have lost £9,000," he said. "It's going to take quite some time to get that back and I could lose my place at the top of the table. I'm absolutely devastated.

"To lose one is bad enough but when my wife rang to tell me about the second theft I was nearly in tears.

The bikes, a 2002 Honda CRF 450 and a 2003 Honda CRF 450, were stolen from Mr Adams' garage on April 12 and May 26. The thieves used bolt cutters to destroy locks and smashed the alarms Mr Adams had fitted.

The second bike was locked so it could not be ridden. But the thieves dragged it across Pontrhydyrun playing fields and loaded it into a van. Police are linking the thefts to a spate of similar incidents. As the Argus reported previously, thieves have been targeting off-road bikes in Torfaen and parts of Monmouthshire over the past few months.

Police in Pontypool recently arrested two men and seized a number of off-road bikes in Operation Hurricane, after a spate of thirty thefts from Pontypool, Cwmbran, Blaenavon, Goytre and Usk. The two men have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Anyone with information about such thefts can call 01633 838111.