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| Stolen medals found on internet | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A former Royal Engineer has been reunited with three medals stolen from his home 18 years ago - after they were spotted on an dealer's website. | |
| Graeme Olley's accolades include an MBE, a General Service Medal and a Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal. | Graeme Olley's accolades include an MBE, a General Service Medal and a Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal. |
| His stepson, a former police officer, found them on a website where a Norfolk dealer was selling them for £795. | |
| Police helped to retrieve the medals and handed them back to Mr Olley, 78, from Kent, who said he was "delighted". | Police helped to retrieve the medals and handed them back to Mr Olley, 78, from Kent, who said he was "delighted". |
| The pensioner said: "I honestly thought I'd never see them again, then quite by chance my stepson was browsing [on the internet] and saw them up for sale. | |
| "It's just beyond belief really that all these years later there should be a set of circumstances like that." | "It's just beyond belief really that all these years later there should be a set of circumstances like that." |
| Services to country | Services to country |
| Mr Olley was appointed an MBE in 1958 after working in Borneo to make a major river navigable on behalf of the government. | Mr Olley was appointed an MBE in 1958 after working in Borneo to make a major river navigable on behalf of the government. |
| He was also awarded the General Service Medal for a tour of duty in Malaya from 1956 to 1958. | He was also awarded the General Service Medal for a tour of duty in Malaya from 1956 to 1958. |
| And he was recognised for his services to the country with a Queen's Silver Jubilee medal in 1977. | And he was recognised for his services to the country with a Queen's Silver Jubilee medal in 1977. |
| But in 1991 the medals were stolen, along with china and silverware, during a burglary at his home in Saltwood and Mr Olley thought he would never see them again. | But in 1991 the medals were stolen, along with china and silverware, during a burglary at his home in Saltwood and Mr Olley thought he would never see them again. |
| The accolades were stolen during a burglary at Mr Olley's home in 1991 | The accolades were stolen during a burglary at Mr Olley's home in 1991 |
| His stepson Simon Hathaway, 48, a former Metropolitan Police officer from Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, came across the medals on the web and the family then contacted Kent Police. | His stepson Simon Hathaway, 48, a former Metropolitan Police officer from Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, came across the medals on the web and the family then contacted Kent Police. |
| Officers found the original crime report from 1991 and located the medals, which were returned to the family. | Officers found the original crime report from 1991 and located the medals, which were returned to the family. |
| A police spokesman said: "The dealer who had them was happy to hand them over to police when he realised their background." | A police spokesman said: "The dealer who had them was happy to hand them over to police when he realised their background." |
| Mr Olley said: "They bring back many memories of how I got them and what a super party we had after receiving the MBE. | Mr Olley said: "They bring back many memories of how I got them and what a super party we had after receiving the MBE. |
| "My wife is just as pleased as I am that they've been returned. When I next see my stepson I'm sure I'll buy him a drink." | "My wife is just as pleased as I am that they've been returned. When I next see my stepson I'm sure I'll buy him a drink." |