A MAN picked up a passenger's wallet on a train before using his cards in a supermarket.

The victim, a 25-year-old man from Newbury, dropped his wallet on August 21 between 2.30pm and 4pm.

The offender is believed to have taken the wallet after boarding at Reading West Station and used his contactless payment card at Tesco supermarket in Newbury.

Officers from British Transport Police are appealing for information and would like to speak to the man in the CCTV image, as they believe he may hold vital information.

PC Antonio Civitillo, who is leading the investigation, said: “The victim believes he dropped his wallet on the train before the man picked it up and went on to use his card.”

"After following several lines of enquiry, including reviewing CCTV and tracing the transactions made on the cards, we are now releasing an image of a man who we believe may have key information about the investigation."

Anyone with information should call British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 quoting reference 1700057855.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.