A FORMER soldier has told how thieves broke into his house and stole his service medals while he and his daughter slept.

Steve Martin, 51, moved into Chapel Street, Nelson, with his four-year-old daughter Pagan just three weeks ago.

But he was horrified to wake up and find the house ransacked and more than £1,000 of goods, including his two service medals had gone.

The thieves even took his front door keys to let themselves out.

The former sergeant in the Third Parachute Regiment served in the Falklands and Northern Ireland and said it was lucky he did not wake in the night and discover the thieves.

He said: "At the end of the day I'm just glad my little daughter didn't walk downstairs while they were in the house. People like that who break in while you're asleep have no morals.

"Most things can be replaced, except for the medals and the gold chain my father bought for me. He's been dead 25 years. But I'm glad my little girl wasn't traumatised.

"After doing the time I did and coming out a sergeant, having some scumbag rob me is a bit much. It's a nice welcome when we've only been here three weeks. I'm finding it hard enough as a single parent as it is.

"

He went on: "I'd left the tumble dryer on to dry my little girl's clothes and had the little window open. I came downstairs and found stuff everywhere. The cheeky beggars even nicked my keys to let themselves out."

The raid happened between Monday 9pm and Tuesday 5.50am. The medals are silver with Mr Martin's army number 24238607 and name. One is a General Service Medal and the other a Falklands Campaign Medal.

Sergeant John Fryer, of Nelson Police, said: "Anyone with a conscience would return them. We've been around the shops telling them we are on the look out."

Anyone with information should contact Nelson Police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.