A PENSIONER who had more than £800 stolen from him is lost for words after a public appeal recouped his losses.

The 84-year-old victim, Dennis Amatt, had taken the money out to pay for his wife Rita’s dementia care when he was targeted as he left Lloyd’s bank, in Church Road, Tiptree.

In the aftermath of the theft, his family set up a GoFundMe page to help recoup his losses.

In total, their appeal raised almost £1,000.

Now his family have publicly thanked the community.

Granddaughter Toni Bowers said: “Dennis had been so taken aback and lost for words. He didn’t know what to say.

“He wants to pass on his appreciation and he knows without the Gazette’s help this probably wouldn’t have been possible.”