Former heptathlete and 400m sprinter has appeared on BBC’s Crimewatch to make an appeal for the return of the gold medal awarded to her in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.
Sotherton was seen on Crimewatch making an emotional appeal, she said: “My Commonwealth gold medal was my first international medal.
“When I look back at it now I’m proud of myself and I know it’s something that I’m never ever going to achieve again.
“These medals aren’t really gold. It’s just the value and the effort you put in to get it.”
Sotherton was asleep at her home in Sutton Coldfield on the 17 February when the gold medal as well as nine ‘AAA’ British medals and six gold Island Games medals were stolen along with a number of other personal items.
It is thought by detectives investigating that the thieves broke into her home to obtain the keys for her Audi, but came away instead with the medals.
Since the burglary, Sotherton has been active on Twitter appealing for anyone who has been offered the medals to come forward. But it appears that her Crimewatch appeal may have made all of the difference as the police now claim to have a ‘possible name’ of the suspect.
Sadly this is not the first time that Sotherton has been targeted by criminals after her car was subject to an arson attack in April last year.
The athlete described how the burglary had impacted her: “We no longer feel safe in our home. That’s what burglars do, whatever they take – disrupt people’s lives for really only a few pounds.”
Anyone who has information that could help Birmingham North Police’s investigation can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ALERT:If you’re offered this medal or any other medals(national golds/silvers/bronzes)please contact @CrimestoppersUK pic.twitter.com/vJYjNWFL5X
— welby sötherchez (@KellySotherton) February 24, 2015
