Family of murdered Wigan man set-up crowdfunder to replace his nephew’s stolen pro-racing bike

The family of Billy Livesley, who was murdered in Wigan in 2018, have set-up a Just Giving page to raise funds to replace their son’s stolen motocross bike so that he is able to compete in the next British national championships.
By Holly Pritchard
Published 9th May 2022, 12:30 BST
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Wez Mitchell, Billy’s brother, and his partner, Stacey Naylor, from Platt Bridge, are trying to raise £6,000 to get their 12-year-old son, Bailey Mitchell, another bike after “four youths” were allegedly spotted taking it away it from the back of their caravan-tow at the Leisure Lake MX track in Preston, in the early hours of May 7.

They urgently want to replace it so that he can still compete in the competition at professional level on the weekend of May 14, as he will be unable to without one.

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Mother of Wigan murder victim makes plea for grandson's stolen pro-racing bike w...
Bailey Mitchell, has had his MX bike and racing equipment stolen.Bailey Mitchell, has had his MX bike and racing equipment stolen.
Bailey Mitchell, has had his MX bike and racing equipment stolen.
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The family were sleeping at the time of the theft while they were at one of the many competitions where Bailey competes at professional level around the UK, just like most weekends.

He has been racing since he was just six years old and his uncle Billy used to travel around the country to watch him race. The pair were very close.

Billy was killed in December 2018 by David Connors, who is now serving a life sentence for his murder.

Bailey struggled to come to terms with the loss of his uncle and since then he always competes as the number “601”, which was Billy’s date of birth, in his memory.

Bailey mitchell (centre), with his uncle Billy Livesley (right), who used to travel around the country to watch his nephew race.Bailey mitchell (centre), with his uncle Billy Livesley (right), who used to travel around the country to watch his nephew race.
Bailey mitchell (centre), with his uncle Billy Livesley (right), who used to travel around the country to watch his nephew race.
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Bailey’s grandmother, Sylvia Mitchell, who is the mother of Billy, said: “We’ve set-up a Just Giving page just to raise enough money to get another bike so that he can still compete next weekend.

"He can’t compete without a professional bike.

"We’re all struggling at the moment and it’s very expensive to replace.

"He’s absolutely heartbroken, it has Billy’s date of birth on it, his lucky number “601”.

Bailey Mitchell's MX bike which was stoeln by thieves. It has the number, "602", which was his uncle Billy's date of birth.Bailey Mitchell's MX bike which was stoeln by thieves. It has the number, "602", which was his uncle Billy's date of birth.
Bailey Mitchell's MX bike which was stoeln by thieves. It has the number, "602", which was his uncle Billy's date of birth.

"Those thieves stole more than just his bike, they’ve stolen his career.

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"After they took it, he entered a race they next day on his practice bike, which the brakes have gone on, beacuse he didn’t want to miss a race.

"He came first place in it.

“I think it was the adrenaline.”

The thieves were also spotted walking off with other children’s bikes from the racing park.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 55111.