Two brothers have admitted possessing treasured war medals stolen from a centenarian former Desert Rat.

Benjamin and Sidney Samuels were accused of burgling Leslie Stelfox’s home in Cherry Close, Milton Regis, and stealing six of his campaign medals and five of his father Arthur’s from the First World War.

But the prosecution accepted their guilty pleas to handling stolen goods between February 7 and March 23 this year.

Now the 101-year-old widower, who served under Montgomery at El Alamein, says he wants to move on after the theft.

He said after the verdict: “The incident’s been and done now, it’s not worried me.

“I went through a lot worse in the Army and when I was in the police force, but I’d like to see these people locked up for a long time. We need to make an example of them.”

Benjamin Samuels, 33, and Sidney Samuels, 38, both of Milbourne Grove, Milton Regis, also admitted handling stolen goods from another burglary in March.

Alan Looker, 33, also of Milbourne Grove, admitted two handling offences.

All three denied conspiracy to burgle and the charge was left on the court file.

Sentence was adjourned for reports until October 21.

Craig Evans, for Benjamin Samuels, said his client had suffered from alcoholism since the age of 13.

Sidney Samuels was said to have been addicted to heroin for 16 years and was given drug rehabilitation treatment for similar offences in July 2011.

The brothers have both spent six months on remand - the equivalent of a 12-month sentence.

Looker’s bail, conditional on residence and a tagged curfew between 7pm and 6am, was continued.

Police returned the medals to Mr Stelfox two months after they were stolen.

Also taken were £415 in cash, a watch, a rare 1917 Russian silver half rouble, some old tuppeny pieces and a Bowaters football medal.

The 101-year-old widower, who served under Montgomery at El-Alamein, was out at the time of the burglary.

The medals are: General Service for Palestine 1938; the 1945 Star; General Service 1936-1938; Italian Star 1939-1945; North Africa Star 1939-1945; and General Service 1939-1945.

Those that belonged to his late father are: three 1914 campaign medals, one for long service and a special one relating to HMS Swift which would have been awarded for either saving the ship or someone’s life.

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