'Gutless' thieves steal kids' £20k motocross bikes

The kids bikes were stolen from the family's garage

"Gutless" thieves have stolen seven motocross kids' bikes worth £20,000, a father has said.

Leighton Holmes from Evercreech near Shepton Mallet in Somerset said his children have had their "freedom ripped away" after their bikes were taken from the family's garage.

Mr Holmes said his sons were "devastated" by the theft on 9 November, but added police have not yet visited his home.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said they "believe this address was specifically targeted", and officers are investigating the incident.

Mr Holmes said his sons, who are autistic, "struggle with various things within their life but their bikes are the one thing that you know gives them that bit of freedom".

He added: "They're on their [bikes] practically every single day.

"They go out for an hour on them or I take them to some local pump tracks and it just gives them that sense of freedom and that's just been ripped away from them."

The bikes were taken from Mr Holmes' garage while he was away from the home, with the suspects captured on a neighbour's CCTV.

"I just want to know why," he said.

"They clearly knew they were kids' bikes... why take from children? They're gutless - there's just no real understanding."

Mr Holmes has also complained that officers are not keeping him up to date with "anything they've done".

Police are investigating if other properties near to where Mr Holmes, pictured above, lives were also targeted

Officers said they were reviewing the CCTV, and hope to identify men in the footage.

Neighbourhood Insp Max Priestley said officers remain in contact with the victim.

"While this is the only burglary of its kind on that night in the area, work is taking place to establish if there are any other linked incidents on any other days, but we believe this address was specifically targeted as one of the bikes was previously advertised for sale on social media," he said.