‘It’s like having your life stolen’ - burglary victim

His Warren Road home was broken into on Saturday August 3.

Items stolen included his father’s war medals, his late wife’s jewellery, treasured autographs of football legends Stanley Matthews and Duncan Edwards and a child’s watch once owned by his sister who died aged eight.

Speaking this week he said: “I just hope that someone has the decency and courage to return them as they mean so much to me.

“These things symbolise my life - losing them is like having your life whipped away.”

Mr Sutton had planned to leave the autograph of his football hero, Manchester United and England star Duncan Edwards, to his son.

He said: “I was offered £3,000 for that one autograph ten years ago but I turned it down as I wanted my son to have it.”

Mr Sutton’s father Herbert, was a Royal Naval officer, born in Hastings, who spent 25 years at sea serving on warships.

Mr Sutton had just finished restoring the medals, which he displayed proudly in a frame, when the thieves took them.

Mr Sutton was full of praise for the police: “It has been like looking for a needle in a haystack but the police have been brilliant. I cannot praise them enough.”

Mr Sutton also praised friends who have rallied round to help him, scouring auction houses and antiques shops in an attempt to locate the stolen items.

He said: “The phone did not stop ringing and everyone I have spoken to has been extremely helpful.”