A disabled Team GB horse rider has spoken of her heartache after a gang of thieves raided her stables and stole specialist riding equipment of sentimental value.

Paralympic equestrian Rachel Taylor, nee Collins, was among those targeted in a series of burglaries across west and north Kent which happened during the 2020 lockdown.

Now three of the thieves have received jail sentences for their part in the £100,000 heists which happened during a two week spree in May when eight stables and other properties were broken into.

Jimmy Price, 28, of Forstal Farm, Loose; Frank Matthews, 27, of Crispen Court, Westerhill Road, Coxheath and Lewis Collins, 25 of Clare Place, Maidstone all admitted one charge of conspiracy to burgle. Matthews was also charged with dangerous driving.

All pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and were sentenced last week.

During the hearing, Rachel, 51, who is on the GB para dressage team and is currently number four in the world, said her racing tack is specially adapted because of her disability.

She has impairments in both her legs, spine, right arm and right hand, and started competing in para dressage after being inspired by the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Rachel, whose stables are in Faversham, revealed in her victim impact statement: "At the time of the break-in I was looking to compete in the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.

"I had two bridles stolen – one from my first horse which died a couple of years ago. It had great sentimental value to me

"These were stolen during the pandemic and it was hard to get hold of replacements and the saddle was specifically adapted for me and these were not easy to replace."

The saddles are designed to enable Rachel to tell her horse, Fine Time, which she has nicknamed Muddy, where to move.

"To think there is someone else who is now riding around on this bridle is devastating. This was a really unsettling crime during Lockdown.

"We were all terrified for the well-being of our horses if the criminals came back."

"We were all terrified for the well-being of our horses if the criminals came back"

The thefts happened while GB selections for the Olympics were still taking place – leaving riders feeling vulnerable and fearing that stables were being targeted.

She added: "As a result I don't leave any of my tack at the stables overnight now. I take it all home with me – even though the stable's security is really good.

"Being disabled I could do without having to carry the saddle to and fro and I was unable to train until I got the tack replaced and during this time my trainer, David Rumsey had to train my horse until I could get tack again.

"Fortunately at the time there were no competitions but horses need training all the time and the impact of the burglary is much more than most people think.

"People have an impression of horse owners as just wealthy individuals and no doubt there are some who are but there are a lot of people who spend a lot of their disposable income on their hobby."

Rachel, from Sandwich, wed her partner of more than a decade, Roger Taylor, at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone, during lockdown but due to Covid restrictions only four-legged Muddy could attend as a special guest of honour.

Prosecutor Timothy Sleigh-Johnson told Maidstone Crown Court how Price and Matthews broke into the Old Rectory Farm in Faversham on May 3.

More than £80,000 worth of equipment was stolen after they forced the locks to the gates.

And two days later all three took part in a raid at Lower Brenchley Farm, Paddock Wood when nothing was stolen.

Mr Sleigh-Johnson added that on the same night the gang struck at Mount Pleasant Farm, East Peckham when the cover to an alarm was knocked off a wall.

And they also raided the Bell Equine Vets premises in Mereworth where the trio were disturbed while trying to escape with a large quantity of horse rugs and other equipment after destroying windows to four vehicles.

The total value of the destruction, including equine medicines, was £1650.

The court heard how Matthews struck ten days later at Highfields Farm, Sevenoaks taking £5000 worth of horse equipment.

On May 16 all three broke into the Squirrels Riding School in Chatham taking three saddles and bridles worth £1500.

Mr Sleigh-Johnson said on the same day, the trio stuck at a property in Sittingbourne where they stole a £300 petrol strimmer.

"They also smashed through a four-inch wall to get into stables and a barn, causing £600 worth of damage," he said.

The raids finally came to an end on May 17 after they raided stables in Maidstone, stealing items worth £1050 and the following day they were arrested in a car after a short chase with police.

The Judge Recorder Andew Walker KC told them: "You engaged in a series of burglaries, clearly aimed at stable yards and other equine related premises with a view to stealing high-value items – you were clearly targeting them."

On Friday father-of-two Collins received an 18 month jail sentence suspended for two years, and was ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid worth. Matthews was jailed for 27 months and Price for 18 months.

All three were ordered to pay £400 compensation each.

Detective constable Rob Fagg said: "These men targeted remote rural locations to steal a considerable amount of equine equipment from horse owners.

"The victims will have spent many years collecting expensive saddles, tack and in some cases specialist equipment, and the loss would have been hard to bear.

"The damage this gang caused at the break-ins would also have been expensive to repair and I have no doubt they did not spare a thought for the impact their crimes would have on the victims.

"A prison sentence for two members of this crime gang is entirely appropriate."