A BUSINESSMAN is appealing for help to trace a woman who was spotted on CCTV picking his wallet containing £1,600 in Redditch.

Clive Fokes, who owns Courtyard Music in Tardebigge, had been due to visit the bank but was "devastated" to discover his wallet containing January’s takings, driving licence and credit cards had vanished.

He had visited Domer Plant Hire in Evesham Road, Redditch, to buy a gas bottle, and whilst Mr Fokes was having the item loaded into his car, his wallet fell from his pocket.

The incident took place just after 11.30am on Thursday, January 26.

At 11.46am the same day, CCTV picks up a silver/grey Vauxhall Corsa is seen to drive over the wallet before reversing and a female driver in a pink or red coat is seen to get out and collect it.

The woman is then seen to drive to the traffic lights between Evesham Road and Birchfield Road and turns left into Headless Cross Drive. Unfortunately, CCTV does not pick up the registration of this vehicle.

Mr Fokes said: "I was devastated, then I felt stupid. For some stupid reason after I paid for the gas bottle I put my wallet in my jacket and the pockets are horizontal.

"Nine out of 10 people would have handed it in - it is just disgraceful – they are not a nice person.

"I feel like I have lost my faith in human nature. You find £5 on the floor you think 'it's my lucky day' but if you find a wallet full of cash you know it is serious."

He said: "It will go to court and they will probably be made to pay back £20 a week for the rest of their life but it is the principal."

West Mercia Police said they have not had anyone hand in the wallet and this loss had caused Mr Fokes distress and is now being treated as a theft investigation.

If the wallet has been stolen Mr Fokes is offering a £200 reward to anyone who can provide information that leads to a conviction.

Anyone who witnessed the alleged theft or recognise the offender to contact West Mercia Police on 101 quoting log 253-S of January 26.