Devon & Cornwall Police News site

A former serviceman from Plymouth has been reunited with medals awarded during his time serving in the armed forces five years after they were stolen in a burglary at his home.

Peter 'Mitch' Mitchell served in the British Army, initially with the Parachute Regiment before transferring to the Royal Logistic Corps, serving with both airborne and commando forces throughout his career.

During this time Peter was awarded medals in recognition for his efforts during Operation Haven, a relief effort aimed at protecting hundreds of thousands of Kurdish refugees who fled towards the Turkish mountains after Iraq President Saddam Hussein crushed their rebellion in March 1991.

In September 2019, Peter’s home was targeted by burglars who forced entry to his property and stole various items including jewellery, sentimental gold sovereign coins and the medals.

A photo appeal from Devon and Cornwall Police followed the burglary, and shortly after the crime a piece of Peter’s jewellery was found in a Plymouth shop, and a watch was located in Manchester during the recent lockdown.

More recently Plymouth community interest company Clean Our Patch found war medals, old coins and jewellery hidden in a pillowcase in a carrier bag near the former railway depot at Laira in Plymouth on Wednesday of last week.

The group posted a picture of its find on Facebook, and one of its followers was able to recognise the items from the police photo appeal issued years before.

The newly found items were handed over to police and following a review have now been given back to Peter at the Devonport Police Enquiry Office.

Peter said: “I received a call from police on Friday 30 August while supporting cancer patients in Exeter and monitoring my home security update over the phone. It was strange to receive this call on the same day my new door was being fitted, replacing the one damaged in the burglary.”

Peter has had to wait five years to get a proper door fitted due to it being a specialist frame and various complications along the way.

Peter added: “Upon returning to Plymouth, I dismissed the burglary from my mind, as it followed just a few months after my wife Jesse passed away from cancer, marking a challenging period for everyone.

“That evening, I saw a PlymouthLive article about stolen medals recovered by the Clean Our Patch CIC team; there was an old picture of Molls, Jesse’s daughter.

“Reflecting on the past is painful; Jesse's battle with cancer was harrowing, marked by a long remission from non-Hodgkin lymphoma followed by a late, fatal diagnosis of another cancer. Memories of another day as the saying goes.

“Recently, I was invited to collect these items, unaware of their condition after years in a box. While most were low value, they held great sentimental significance, including a rare jade Buddha pendant, as the more valuable materials had long been lost.

“The medals which can be cleaned up were for Operation Haven

“Having just returned from Norway after some three months arctic-warfare training, a few of us had flown-in in advance of the Brigade to work with the US troops to secure, identify and locate vulnerable Kurds with the Kurdish Peshmerga still active. Operating one minute in sub-zero artic conditions to middle eastern heat was interesting. 

“I would like to say, one is humbled by the volunteer litter pickers who, despite challenging times, chose to return their findings and generously dedicate their time to clean up after us.”

Officers from Priority Crime Investigation Team said: “We were delighted to be able to reunite Peter with the medals awarded to him in recognition for his efforts serving the country and protecting the lives of others.

“Although we were not able to identify the suspect who carried out the burglary, our extensive enquiries had reunited Peter with some of the stolen items prior to the most recent discovery.

“Burglaries are carried out in the place that victims are entitled to feel most safe. In their own homes. Anybody who has been the victim of a burglary should report it to us via the usual channels and we will investigate each report thoroughly.”

If you have been affected by crime, please visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.