A TROWBRIDGE man with autism who had all his tools stolen from a shed he had built himself has been overwhelmed by the generosity of local people who have offered to replace them.

Simon Gifford's shed was targeted in an overnight raid a fortnight ago. Thieves took drills, hammers and his entire toolbox from the shed he built after looking up instructions on the internet.

Mr Gifford, 26, who has lived in a Trowbridge care home for four years, said he was devastated when he discovered his tools had been taken and thought it was someone playing a prank on him.

He said: “At first, I thought I had mislaid it or it was a joke. I do miss my old tool box.

“I have managed to buy another power tool and I’ve been given chisels, hammers and pliers. I’ve now got what I need.

“It is important for me to finish my own project and I just want to say thank you very much to people who have donated.

“One man lived down the road and he has given a drill and a hammer and another person who heard me on the radio gave tools.

“I like building this and that and my dad was a builder.”

News soon spread of his loss on social media, with many people coming to Mr Gifford’s aid.

Teresa Hibbs, service manager in Trowbridge for Craegmoor, part of the Priory Group, which runs the home Mr Gifford lives in, said working on his shed is what gets Mr Gifford through the day.

She added: “He’s never done any woodwork classes or anything. He has been teaching himself and learning along the way.

“Simon saves his money hard every week and puts it towards this project, buying wood and tools. The police said there wasn’t anything they could do.

“People donating has restored Simon’s faith in other people and in himself.”

Craegmoor, part of the Priory Group of Companies, is a national provider of specialist community-based support and enablement services for people who have individual needs associated with a learning disability, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or a mental health condition