A Special Olympian has been left heartbroken after burglars raided his home while he slept.

Sports-mad Leo Mead is a well-known character in Dymchurch and is the goalkeeper for Great Britain’s Special Olympics football team.

He’s 33 now and for his 30th birthday his parents Mary Mead and Keith Groombridge bought him a TV so he could enjoy watching his beloved sport.

After the theft, he came in to his mother’s room in the morning and said: "My TV’s gone."

When she came downstairs she discovered burglars had crowbarred open a window and walked off with several TVs and electrical equipment and a pair of rare sunglasses. They had also stolen the family car, driven it to New Romney and burned it out.

Leo, who has learning difficulties, is waiting for his TV to come back.

Mary said: "How many people would do that to Leo? I was fast asleep and it was such as shock. Leo has been so disturbed by it seeing as he is so honest.

"He wants to know when it is coming back and he doesn’t understand. He loves sport so we thought we would buy the TV, and now it has gone. They also took the car.

"He has been taking part in the Special Olympics for 20 years as the England goalie and he has lived here 20 years too.

"We moved here for his safety so he could go out on his own. I think if the burglars had known they wouldn’t have done it, and if people know them and find out they will be angry."

Leo’s next sporting endeavour is playing football at the national championships in Leicester in July.

Anyone who has spotted Leo’s TV, a 42-inch Phillips, or has information should contact Kent Police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.