Soldier's war medals are stolen in burglary

A soldier from Staffordshire has been left devastated after burglars raided his home while he was at a comrade's funeral and stole his war medals.

Sergeant James Stanley, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, returned from a wake to find medals from Iraq and Cyprus missing.

The burglars also stole several pieces of military camouflage uniform as well as his army boots and electrical goods, including his iPad.

The break-in occurred while the 26-year-old, of Lilac Lane, Great Wyrley, had been attending a wake in Aston after his friend and fellow soldier Lance Bombardier Dean Rathbone, 24, died in an accident back home.

The raiders also stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery belonging to his mother-in-law, and a Silver Ford Galaxy hire car.

Next month, Sgt Stanley, who belongs to 26th Regiment Royal Artillery The West Midland Gunners, is due to receive another medal in Birmingham City Centre, to mark his time in Afghanistan, but as things stand, he will not be able to wear his existing medals.

He said: "I am going on parade in a few weeks, it's just so annoying — I've been so wound up by it. You spend your time serving there, and losing lads, and this is what you get for it.

"My smart uniform was hanging up and they had just ripped them off it

"They had gone through my bag and taken all my desert kit and loads of army kit, like GPS equipment and even stuff you use to make a brew over there."

The soldier was given the Operation Telic medal for his time spent in Iraq, and the Operation TOSCA medal for the peacekeeping he carried out in Cyprus.

Sgt Stanley, who went to Great Wyrley High School, says he wanted to pass the medals to his son.