Widow's distress as rings stolen in raid

Jewellery belonging to Ian Rimell – including the couple's wedding rings – was taken in the break-in. Mr Rimell was working with the UK-based charity Mines Advisory Group when he was shot dead in 2003. His widow, Jennifer Rimell, today spoke out after her Kidderminster home was raided.

She had returned to house in Siskin Way, Spennells, to find her belongings strewn across the property.

The items taken include the couple's 22ct gold wedding rings, and other pieces made of Arabic gold which Mr Rimell had bought for his wife and family.

Mrs Rimell, 59, a mother of three grown-up children, said: "I arrived home and noticed a few things were out of place but it was only when I went into my bedroom and saw everything strewn across my bed that I realised I had been burgled and I broke down in tears. Since then I have been finding it hard to sleep.

"All of the items had belonged to Ian or his family, or were bought by him for me, and are absolutely priceless to me."

Mr Rimell, who received the British Empire Medal for his work in the Middle East, was attacked by terrorists while on a humanitarian mission in northern Iraq when the jeep he was travelling in was ambushed.

Mrs Rimell, who had been married to her husband for 28 years, added: "I just want these people caught.

"You can take television and things that can be replaced but by taking family heirlooms they do not realise the sadness that they have caused to our family."

The property was targeted between 7.45am and 4.30pm on September 17.

Call police on 101 quoting incident 95-N-170912.