Man arrested over alleged theft of British Olympians' bronze medals

By Mike Rowbottom

October 25 - Police have arrested a man in connection with the alleged theft of two bronze medals from British Olympians Alex Partridge and Hannah Macleod in the early hours of Wednesday – the search is still on for the medals.

Rower Partridge (pictured top) and hockey player Macleod had both appealed for help on social media after their bronze medals from the London 2012 Games disappeared while they were at the Mahiki nightclub in London's Mayfair following a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the British team's Olympic successes.

Partridge, who was in the eight which took third place in their final at Eton Dorney, is also missing his Team GB blazer.

A 29-year-old man has been arrested and is being questioned at a west London police station, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

Macleod – a member of the women's bronze-medallists hockey team – and Partridge were among a group of athletes attending the club after their royal reception.

Under the Twitter name @2012parters, Partridge, 31, posted a CCTV image with the tweet: "Does anyone recognise this man as he may be able to help me get my @London2012 bronze medal and @TeamGB blazer back."

Macleod, 28, tweeted: "My medal was also stolen at the same time. Totally devestated (sic)."

Hannah McLeod has appealed for the return of her London 2012 Olympic bronze medal

With the name @hannahmacleod6, she also posted the CCTV image, adding, "This man MIGHT be able to shed some light on the theft...I'm not after punishment. If you picked up a Bronze Olympic medal that isn't yours pls just send anonymously back to GB hockey-Bisham Abbey."

In an interview last night on BBC Radio 5 Live, Partridge said he initially thought his possessions had been mistakenly taken by another team member.

But after looking at a CCTV recording, he said that doesn't appear to be the case.

"Someone's taken my Olympic blazer with my Olympic bronze medal in it and all I want is to get them both back," Partridge said.

The full impact of the incident only hit Partridge when he got home, he said.

"I suddenly realised my daughter would never see this medal – what I'd worked so hard for, for 12 years."

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