'THIEF STOLE MY CLOTHES AND CAR'

Roy Chapman, 41, of Buckwell Court, had driven down to the leisure centre for a work-out in the gym.

But he didn't count on returning to his changing room an hour later to find his locker had been forced and a bag containing all his possessions stolen.

He said: 'I couldn't believe it at first. I thought I was looking at the wrong locker. Then I realised the horrible truth.

'The bag contained all my clothes, my wallet with various credit cards, my mobile phone and, worst of all, the keys to my company's Mazda 6 .

'I rightly feared the worst. I cancelled my credit cards immediately at the leisure centre and then went out with staff, who were very helpful, to find that the Mazda had gone.'

Mr Chapman, who works for roof sheeting and cladding firm ICS, was left stranded in his sweaty T-shirt and shorts until his parents arrived to collect him and take him home.

Police are examining CCTV footage which shows him being followed into the leisure centre by a man who paid for a swim but left after eight minutes without using the pool, carrying a similar bag to the one stolen.

Mr Chapman added: 'It hasn't put me off. I have been back to the gym since the theft but now I get changed at work and take what few possessions I have with me into the gym.'

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the theft, at about 6pm on Wednesday last week, to contact them on 0845 6070999.

A spokesman for Lewes District Council, which owns the pool, said: 'We are giving the police every assistance and have provided them with all the CCTV footage that is available.'