A MAN who acted as a decoy for a raid on a riding school near Evesham has been jailed for two years.

Peter Goodwin went to owner Joan Bomford and lied that he had collided with one of her horses.

They walked together down a lane - but he then jumped into a van and reversed at her, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Mrs Bomford, aged 68, had to leap into a ditch to avoid being hit and sank up to her thighs in water.

When she returned shaken to the Mayfield riding school at Norval Farm, South Littleton, she discovered property worth £1,500 missing along with £500 pension money, said Gareth Walters, prosecuting.

While Goodwin had distracted Mrs Bomford, two accomplices broke into the property through a back door and rifled rooms. Goodwin, aged 28, of Honeybourne Road, Bidford-on-Avon, admitted burglary.

Mrs Bomford first came across the defendant in her conservatory on October 10, last year.

After they walked down a lane together to look for the "injured" horse, he suddenly said he had to get away. He then reversed at great speed towards her before driving off.

Mrs Bomford's brother Trevor was alerted by mobile phone and he gave chase. But he lost Goodwin who drove at speeds up to 80mph to get away, said Mr Walters.

He was stopped while driving a car in Offenham a few days later and arrested.

David Iles, defending, said Goodwin was put under pressure to take part in the burglary by others.

Goodwin had badly let down his father, a cancer sufferer. His three-year-old daughter was facing a number of eye operations.

But Judge David McEvoy QC told Goodwin he rejected his explanation that he was intimidated by two men he did not know.