A JUNIOR motorcyclist is distraught after the theft of his third bike in five years.

Jacob Boyle, nine, of St George's Road, Portland, lost his latest trials bike when it was taken from the shed outside his house during the night Jacob's mother, Sarah-Jo Smith, said: "He's absolutely distraught as this is the third time one of his little bikes has gone.

"He feels like he is being targeted. You can't console him in any way.

"You try to teach your children right from wrong but then three times in five years he gets his bikes taken from him.

"It's awful because he's in a motorcycle club and he was looking forward to his first off-road trial of the year on Sunday."

As a keen motorcyclist, Jacob's mother is keen to borrow another bike for the trials this weekend but believes it will be difficult to find a replacement.

Jacob was given his red 80cc Beta trials motorcycle to replace his second bike, stolen two years ago from their previous address in Furlands, also on Portland. Jacob's father, Richard Boyle, is offering £200 for information leading to a conviction.

A quad bike and a boat's outboard motor were also taken during the break-in. Miss Smith said it was also disappointing to lose the items because Jacob's seven-year-old sister Lauren used to ride the quad bike.

The missing quad bike is a yellow and blue Suzuki LT50 and the outboard motor is a small four-stroke Yamaha engine.