Kelly Sotherton’s Commonwealth Games gold medal discovered

The 38-year-old’s house was burgled last month, prompting a wide appeal that peaked with an appearance on BBC’s Crimewatch on Monday evening.

West Midlands police revealed on Wednesday that a Royal Mail delivery driver had found the medal while emptying a postbox in Sutton Coldfield.

“I’m over the moon. Crimewatch seemed to appeal to someone’s better nature,” she said in a message to the police.

“It must have been a bit of a shock for the postie but I’m glad it was put somewhere safe and can’t wait to get my hands on it again.”

Sotherton's career highlight came at the 2006 Melbourne Games, when she took heptathlon gold ahead of Australia’s Kylie Wheeler and a then 20-year-old Jessica Ennis.

However, she said she was still missing a collection of national medals and urged the perpetrators to hand them in.

Sotherton, who retired in 2012 after injury prevented her from taking part at the London Olympics, enjoyed a superb career which saw her also win bronze medals in the heptathlon at the 2004 Olympics and 2007 World Championships.