Seven thieves, including an Olympic hopeful, who carried out a string of burglaries across Kent, stealing cars worth almost £700,000, have been locked up.

Wearing ski masks and gloves, a man and seven teenagers broke into homes to take the keys of cars parked outside.

Maidstone Crown Court heard 33 break-ins were committed between June 12 and August 14 last year.

Cars were stolen from driveways and near their owners’ homes in Swanley, Strood, Larkfield, Dartford, Higham, West Kingsdown, Otford, Hartley, Orpington, Bexleyheath and Petts Wood.

The oldest member of the gang, Thomas Ripley, 21, of Star Lane, St Mary Cray, was described as the “controlling mind”.

Homes were broken into at night. Access was gained either by forcing open doors or climbing through open windows to steal car keys. Other property was also taken in some raids.

Stolen cars were fitted with false number plates and vehicle identification numbers were drilled off. One car was stripped of parts and torched.

Their total value of the stolen cars was £696,500

Ripley, Jack Hever, 19, of Priorsford Avenue, Orpington, Freddie Friend, 17, of Petersham Drive, St Paul’s Cray, Orpington, and Harry Turner, 16, of Hamerton Road, Northfleet, admitted conspiracy to burgle.

Shannon Kelynack, 19, of Leesons Hill, Orpington, Kirstie Covele, 18, of Maypole Road, Orpington, Charlie Parker, 16, of Waltham Close, Orpington, and a 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted conspiracy to steal.

Father-of-three Ripley, who was involved in 21 break-ins and thefts, was jailed for five years.

Equestrian Covele, a former agricultural college student who hopes to compete in the 2020 Olympics, was sentenced to two years' youth custody.

Hever, an apprentice engineer, was sentenced to three years youth custody. Friend was given a two-year detention and training order and Turner an 18-month detention and training order.

Kelynack was given two years youth custody and Parker a 12-month detention and training order.

The 16-year-old girl, who has just taken a GCSE English exam, was given a two-year youth rehabilitation order.

Judge Adele Williams, who lifted orders banning identification of Parker, Friend and Turner, said the burglaries bore all the hallmarks of professional crime.

“Tools were used to gain access and many of the householders were asleep in their homes,” she said.

“I have read victim personal statements and they make plain, not surprisingly, how badly affected they have been by these crimes, with feelings of violation of their homes as well as the financial loss and inconvenience they have suffered.

“The houses were targeted for their high-value cars. They were disposed of either in their entirety or for their parts.

“I have no doubt there were those higher up the chain who were older and more sophisticated criminals than you, but each of you played your part in this criminality.”