Heroin addict cancer patient who denied stealing a pensioner's $6,500 mobility scooter in crime that infuriated Australia makes stunning death bed confession

A heroin addict cancer patient has made a stunning deathbed confession over the theft of a frail disability pensioner's mobility scooter.

Jason Pye was due to face court next week charged with stealing the $6,500 scooter from Ultimo, inner Sydney, but succumbed to spine cancer on Sunday.

Visiting family on Christmas Day, Pye admitted he took the scooter of partially blind 82-year-old Laurie Adams despite previously maintaining his innocence.

Pye's former partner Silvana Cantali told The Daily Telegraph he was pale and sick when he confessed, 'I stole that man's scooter, I'm so sorry, I hope God forgives me'.

Jason Pye, pictured with his daughter Cheyenne Cantali-Pye, visited family on Christmas Day to admit he stole the scooter belonging to disability pensioner Laurie Adams

Pye had previously maintained his innocence, saying he had purchased the scooter from someone online. Pictured, a CCTV image released by police investigating the scooter theft

'He knew he was dying and came to see us on Christmas Day, he said he hadn't been sleeping because of the old man, it has been playing on his mind, he said he didn't mean to make him cry,' Ms Cantali said.   

She said Pye had been battling a heroin addiction for several years to cope with the pain of lung cancer, which had later spread to the spine.

Mr Adams, who also has emphysema, parked his red scooter outside his home on Macarthur Street in Ultimo on the afternoon of November 8.

He contacted police after he noticed it was missing from his address and detectives launched an investigation. 

Police released CCTV vision of the scooter being driven down a pavement by a man wearing a motocross helmet, which led to a huge public outcry. 

Officers were able to recover the scooter and hand it back to Mr Adams, who broke down in tears when he was reunited with his only means of transport.

Pye's ex-partner Silvana Cantali said he had confessed 'I stole that man's scooter, I'm so sorry, I hope God forgives me'

Disability pensioner Laurie Adams , whose scooter was stolen, said while he forgave Pye he questioned why the scooter had been taken

Pye had claimed he did not steal the scooter but purchased it off a 'low life' online and picked it up close to Mr Adams' home. 

He insisted he 'paid a lot for it' and 'would never want to upset an elderly man'. 

Pye's daughter Cheyenne Cantali-Pye said while he had a drug problem 'he was a good dad'.  

Mr Adams said he forgave Pye but was still dumbfounded as to why he took the scooter.  

'I'm sad to hear he's died but God punished him for stealing it by taking his life, if he told me he had cancer, I would have helped him get one,' he said. 

Mr Adams said he is unable to use the scooter because it no longer works properly as it had been taken over potholes. 

Pye had been charged with stealing the disability vehicle and possessing a butterfly or balisong knife and an illegal pocketknife.