A Renton woman is raising money to buy well-known local man and former Commonwealth Games baton bearer a new phone after his mobile was stolen on a train.

Stephanie Conway set up a crowdfunding page after she heard that Darren ‘Dazza’ McGarva, 23, who has learning difficulties, was robbed as he made his way home from the train two weeks ago.

The money raised will go toward getting Darren a new phone and any left over will be given to Darren to treat himself.

Darren’s mum Donna, 50, told the Reporter: “It was on Thursday, September 3. Darren goes from Renton to Dalmuir on the train, as he does a wee project at the Tea in the Park cafe in Clydebank.

“When he was on the train a girl in her early twenties got on at Renton and started asking him questions, she manipulated him out of £10, and when he got off at Dalmuir she asked could she use his phone, and stole it.

“When he got to the cafe, he was a bit shaken and told his support workers.

“He’s wary going on the train now, I’ve taken him myself this week. I want to try and get him back used to it as he’s doing so well with his independent travel, we don’t want to set him back.

Darren, who also has epilepsy and carried the Queen’s Baton in Renton during the Commonwealth Games last year, takes part in the Work Connect scheme through West Dunbartonshire Council and has travelled on his own since he was 19, as he used to attend Anniesland College. This is the first time Darren has run into trouble on the train.

His mum added: “It’s sad to think there is people out there would do that. Darren knows what she did was wrong, that’s why he told the support worker and it has shaken him a bit about getting the train now, but it’s not affected his demeanour too much, thankfully.

“Stephanie messaged me to let me know she was raising money, I was really touched. Everyone in Renton knows Darren and looks out for him. He’s lived here his whole life and the Renton community is really good with him, I have to say.

“It’s just so sad it happened. The police reckon she wasn’t planning on getting off at Dalmuir but got off just to steal his phone and then jumped on another train. We’ll never get the phone back but I just want her to be caught because she could do it to someone who isn’t as able as Darren.” Police have confirmed officers are dealing with the incident and British Transport Police is studying CCTV to find the thief.

Stephanie, 21, who started the fundraiser, said: “I heard what happened through a friend who phoned me to tell me. Dazza is really well known in the area, he’s always got a smile and a chat for everyone. I wanted to start the fundraiser because I was heart-broken to hear what happened to him.

“Every time I see Dazza he is always happy and cheery singing along to the music on his phone and to picture how sad he would be without it, made me want to do something to help and cheer him up. I’ve been genuinely overwhelmed by the amount of donations so far, I wasn’t expecting it, people said £600 was too much to ask for, but I wanted to aim high and get him the best phone possible and the rest he could treat himself to something nice.” More than £300 has already been raised for Darren, and you can donate at: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/stephanie-conway