Two men have been jailed for stealing Rhona Howie's, centre, Olympic curling gold medal ©Getty Images

Two men have been jailed for more than three years each for stealing the Olympic gold medal won by British curler Rhona Howie from a museum.

Stewart Pettigrew had previously denied the offence but was found guilty by a jury at Dumfries Sheriff Court in Scotland, and was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison.

Charlie Walker had earlier admitted to stealing from Dumfries Museum, with the incident taking place in 2014.

He received three years and seven months.

Howie, better known under her married name, Rhona Martin, gave evidence at the trial and revealed she was "gutted" to learn of the theft.

Rhona Howie guided an all-Scottish team to gold at Salt Lake City 2002 ©Getty Images
Rhona Howie guided an all-Scottish team to gold at Salt Lake City 2002 ©Getty Images

The medal had been part of an exhibition of curling memorabilia when burglars targeted the facility, making off with a haul worth £34,000 ($45,900/€38,500).

Howie led Great Britain to Olympic success at Salt Lake City in 2002, beating Luzia Ebnöther's Switzerland in the final.

The curler filmed an emotional appeal for the BBC programme Crimewatch, calling for the return of the medal.

Also stolen from the museum in Dumfries was the Olympic curling gold won at the inaugural 1924 Winter Games in Chamonix, by fellow Scot William Jackson.

He skipped a team which included his son Laurence.