Pensioner 'devastated' after medal given to him by Pope stolen from his Dudley home

Graham Carter, aged 74, was cutting the lawn at his home in Clarence Street, Dudley and had left the front door of his flat ajar to run the lawnmower cable through, when the burglary took place.

The rare Benemerenti medal was awarded to Mr Carter, in recognition of his 50 years service to the Catholic Church at St Chad and All Saints Church in Sedgley.

Mr Carter, who has now completed more than 60 years service at the church, was presented with the medal at his local church in 2003 after it had been sent by the Vatican, which provides awards for service milestones, including 25 and 50 years.

The theft was witnessed by Sarah Morgan, barmaid at the Dudley and Sedgley Labour Club opposite, who immediately told Mr Carter she had seen the man, believed to be in his 20s and 30s go into the building.

Mr Carter did not initially think anything had been taking after checking his flat following the incident at 5.30pm on April 17 as he was able to locate his money and other valuables.

He eventually discovered the medal was missing when he went to find his watch, which was also taken, five days later.

He said: "It is a devastating blow and it makes me feel really low. It has really knocked me for six. I would rather lose the watch than the medal. The medal means a lot more to me. That reward represents the honour of having to do something in the first place to receive it."

Mr Carter's medal had been kept locked in a white case. Other Benemerenti medals have been sold for just £25 on internet sites. The Citizen watch is worth approximately £100.

Miss Morgan was watching passing cars with her son Noah, seven months, from the club's upstairs window when she noticed a man acting strangely on the pavement in front of Mr Carter's flat and watching him closely as he cut the grass along the side of his property.

However, Mr Carter was not aware of the man as he was facing away from him and She said the man sneaked up the steps to his flat, ducking down beneath a wall in case Mr Carter turned round and saw him.

She said he re-emerged about 50 seconds later with something tucked under his shirt and walked off in the direction of Sedgley.

She described the man as having blond hair, about 5ft 7ins tall and wearing a blue jacket with suede patches on the elbows and shoulders, as well as denim jeans.

"I could not believe it was going on. It was a brazen thing to do, especially on a main road in broad daylight. It is the first time I have seen anything like this happen in this part of the world," she said.

Police have circulated images of the medal to second hand shops to alert staff should the medal be brought in for sale.

Anyone with information in relation to the theft should call West Midlands police on 101.