A thief who targeted a children’s respite centre has been slammed by a young mum whose brother uses the service.

Jasmine Newbury says she was sickened when she heard about a break-in at Preston Skreens in Minster last Tuesday.

The centre’s TV was ripped off the wall and taken and the Xbox and Xbox controller have also gone.

The theft happened just before 7am and the electronics are thought to be worth about £650.

Jasmine, whose disabled brother Jordan has used Preston Skreens for years, was so disgusted she has set about raising money to replace the stolen equipment.

The 20-year-old, of Queenborough Drive, Minster, said: “I just feel so sick. I can’t believe someone even thought about doing that but to actually do it – they must have had to climb over the kids’ pumps and equipment and things.

“I wanted to do something to replace them as it’s not like Preston Skreens can just go out and buy stuff – it’s such a small facility.”

Jasmine put a message up on Facebook saying she would like to help and had an overwhelming response from people saying they would donate.

Bev Panes, clinical sister at the centre in Minster Road, said staff were shocked and upset by the theft.

“You struggle to understand people’s mentality,” she said. “The TV is a big thing to the children here because a lot of them have got limited communication and they come here to enjoy themselves.

“But it’s so nice of the community to do that and that people want to help – it’s amazing.

“We do get a really good response from the local community anyway – they are great at supporting us and it’s so good people want to rally round.”

Donations can be left in collection buckets at Whitbourne Hair Designs in Halfway or Cappelli Barbers, Miss Kayley’s and EB Jewellers all in High Street, Sheerness.

• Police were given a description of someone seen on site, but only through frosted glass, at the time of the theft. They were short and wearing dark clothes.
• Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting crime reference XY/021424/12.