A MOBILE caterer has been left devastated after his business was stolen, just days before he was due to hand it to a new owner.

Robert Padwick's Snack Attack! van has been a popular and profitable feature of Downton business centre for the past 18 months. But when Mr Padwick turned up as usual last Thursday morning, he found his food bar had been stolen during the night - and the thieves even had the cheek to leave the owner a £10 note.

Mr Padwick (43), of Wilton, had just sold the business to help pay for a plumbing course at Tidworth College, with a view to a career change. He was due to hand the van over to the new owner at the weekend.

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