Thieves steal Iraq war veteran’s medals

THE campaign medals of an Iraq war veteran have been stolen from his home after his house was robbed while he attended a Christmas carol service with his children.

Brian Munden, 40, had his medals as well as jewellery and other belongings worth thousands stolen from his Lothians home five days before Christmas.

The former RAF serviceman, his wife, Kerry, and two children came home from the school carol concert to find their home had been “tipped upside down”.

Mr Munden, from Fauldhouse, West Lothian, said: “It’s just gutting. It’s just the invasion, that someone has been through our home and been in our stuff. It’s just horrible.”

“All of my wife’s jewellery was stolen. Her wedding ring, her engagement ring and a ring she got on her 18th birthday from her parents is gone.

“The kids’ stuff is gone, too. There was Christmas money and vouchers for them taken.”

Mr Munden served with the RAF from 1990 as a logistics officer before retiring from the force in 2010 to work as a technical team leader for BSkyB.

His military medals include a campaign medal for serving in Iraq in 2003 and the Queen’s Jubilee medal.

The family had been enjoying the carol service at nearby Whitburn Academy when the thieves struck, and Mr Munden said discovering that the children’s presents had been stolen was very difficult to come to terms with.

“It’s just a reflection of society really, that’s the sad thing. People shouldn’t be doing it,” he said.

“The thing that makes it worse is that they took gifts for the children. They were marked from their grandad [so] they knew they were for the grandchildren.”

Mr Munden said the thieves will not have any use for the military medals.

He said: “They wouldn’t be able to do anything with the medals. They will just toss them away.”

Lothian and Borders Police are now urging anyone with information to come forward.

A spokesman said: “The victims have been left very upset at the theft of these items, many of which have a great deal of sentimental value, while others were intended as Christmas presents.

“Officers are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area on the evening of December 20 and believes they saw anything suspicious. Similarly, anyone who can help us trace those who carried out this theft is also asked to contact police immediately.”