Motorcyclist James Freeman-Gray survived a nasty crash after his accelerator jammed - but was gutted when thieves stole his bike three hours later.

Mr Freeman-Gray, 25, was commuting from his home in Cowley, Oxford, to his office in Witney when he found he could not slow down near Oxford's Heyford Hill roundabout.

His £2,500 red and silver Triumph TT 600 went into a skid and Mr Freeman-Gray just managed to avoid sliding under an articulated lorry.

He was severely shaken but escaped the accident at 8.30am on Thursday with nothing more than a scraped knee.

But his relief at surviving the smash was shortlived - within three hours of the crash his motorbike was stolen from the roadside.

Mr Freeman-Gray, who works for a design agency, said: "It was a real double-whammy - I managed to stop myself sliding under the lorry by putting my feet up against one of the wheels.

"I was very lucky to escape almost completely unscathed, but a couple of hours later I was shocked to find my bike had been stolen."

Mr Freeman-Gray believes if he had been going faster than 30mph, or wearing inferior safety gear, he might have died.

He was treated by paramedics at the scene of the accident, before walking to Sainsbury's to get a taxi to take him home.

He then arranged for a local firm to collect the damaged motorbike.

But when they arrived to collect it at midday it had been stolen, and Mr Freeman-Gray reported the theft to the police.

He added: "Someone must have seen the crash and then come along with a trailer and put the bike in the back.

"It's incredibly callous and calculating to target someone who has just been involved in an accident but the firm picking my bike up told me that this happens quite often."

Mr Freeman-Gray said he would now be forced to travel to work in his second-hand Saab, adding: "I got the motorbike in the first place because it cut half an hour off my journey to work and it was an enjoyable experience getting there.

"This was my first ever accident, and the first time I've ever had a vehicle stolen too.

"I don't think I will get my bike back as it probably has been broken up for parts, but it won't put me off getting back on a motorcycle again, because you have to accept there are certain risks."

Anyone with information about the theft should call Oxford police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.