By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 11:58 AM on 17th February 2011
A police dog who caught a thief by biting his bottom as he fled has been praised by a judge.
Eight-year-old German Shepherd Zak sunk his teeth into the behind of John Davies, who was attempting to escape after he was spotted trying to steal a bronze statue from a park.
On hearing how the criminal was caught Judge Julian Lambert - who has criticised the justice system for being soft - said in court yesterday: 'Good! I hope it hurt. Well done Zak!'
Last month tough Judge Lambert spoke out against the current 'soft' sentencing guidelines which prevented him jailing a burglar in Bristol.
He said the guidelines which suggested a community order for the burglar were 'wet' and he added: 'We live in soft times'.
But sitting at Gloucester Crown court today the judge jailed persistent thief Davies for nine months.
Davies, of Evesham, had admitted trying to steal a £3,000 bronze statue from a public park in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, on the night of 4th August last year.
His efforts were foiled by a couple walking through Sandford Park who spotted him and raised the alarm.
Davies fled when he saw police arriving but Zak was unleashed and sent after him.
'The dog followed the scent to a nearby courtyard where the defendant was hiding,' said prosecutor George Threlfall. 'Zak detained him by biting his left buttock.'
Jailing Davies, the judge publicly commended the couple who had spotted the theft and called the police. He ordered that they should receive rewards from the town of £100 each.
Mr Threlfall had told the court that the couple, Jean Green and Timothy Smith, were walking through the park late at night when they saw two men by the bronze statue called 'Weathered Man', which was lying on its side.
'The statue was commissioned by the Environment Agency in 2005 at a cost of £3,000 and it cost £500 to install,' Mr Threlfall said.
'It was designed to last and to be in the park for some 30-40 years.' He said Mr Smith and Ms Green saw a 4x4 vehicle being driven up to the statue and they realised it was about to be stolen. They telephoned police, who arrived quickly.
Davies was seen to jump over a fence near where the couple were watching from a hiding place. The couple told police where he had gone and Zak was sent after him.
Mr Threlfall said Davies has made 19 previous court appearances for 45 offences, mainly of dishonesty.
At the time of the statue offence he was subject to two suspended sentences totalling 12 weeks which had been imposed in Worcester for burglary and handling stolen goods.
Alan Bell, defending, asked the court to read three letters of reference including one from Davies' employer.
'My client has gained nothing from this offence save perhaps a bite from police dog Zak,' he said.
'He accepts it was an idiotic thing to do and largely on the spur of the moment.'
Judge Lambert sentenced Davies to six months jail for the attempted statue theft and three months consecutively for breaching his suspended sentences.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...olice-dog-Good-I-hope-hurt.html#ixzz1EEmBfNax
Last updated at 11:58 AM on 17th February 2011
A police dog who caught a thief by biting his bottom as he fled has been praised by a judge.
Eight-year-old German Shepherd Zak sunk his teeth into the behind of John Davies, who was attempting to escape after he was spotted trying to steal a bronze statue from a park.
On hearing how the criminal was caught Judge Julian Lambert - who has criticised the justice system for being soft - said in court yesterday: 'Good! I hope it hurt. Well done Zak!'
Last month tough Judge Lambert spoke out against the current 'soft' sentencing guidelines which prevented him jailing a burglar in Bristol.
He said the guidelines which suggested a community order for the burglar were 'wet' and he added: 'We live in soft times'.
But sitting at Gloucester Crown court today the judge jailed persistent thief Davies for nine months.
Davies, of Evesham, had admitted trying to steal a £3,000 bronze statue from a public park in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, on the night of 4th August last year.
His efforts were foiled by a couple walking through Sandford Park who spotted him and raised the alarm.
Davies fled when he saw police arriving but Zak was unleashed and sent after him.
'The dog followed the scent to a nearby courtyard where the defendant was hiding,' said prosecutor George Threlfall. 'Zak detained him by biting his left buttock.'
Jailing Davies, the judge publicly commended the couple who had spotted the theft and called the police. He ordered that they should receive rewards from the town of £100 each.
Mr Threlfall had told the court that the couple, Jean Green and Timothy Smith, were walking through the park late at night when they saw two men by the bronze statue called 'Weathered Man', which was lying on its side.
'The statue was commissioned by the Environment Agency in 2005 at a cost of £3,000 and it cost £500 to install,' Mr Threlfall said.
'It was designed to last and to be in the park for some 30-40 years.' He said Mr Smith and Ms Green saw a 4x4 vehicle being driven up to the statue and they realised it was about to be stolen. They telephoned police, who arrived quickly.
Davies was seen to jump over a fence near where the couple were watching from a hiding place. The couple told police where he had gone and Zak was sent after him.
Mr Threlfall said Davies has made 19 previous court appearances for 45 offences, mainly of dishonesty.
At the time of the statue offence he was subject to two suspended sentences totalling 12 weeks which had been imposed in Worcester for burglary and handling stolen goods.
Alan Bell, defending, asked the court to read three letters of reference including one from Davies' employer.
'My client has gained nothing from this offence save perhaps a bite from police dog Zak,' he said.
'He accepts it was an idiotic thing to do and largely on the spur of the moment.'
Judge Lambert sentenced Davies to six months jail for the attempted statue theft and three months consecutively for breaching his suspended sentences.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...olice-dog-Good-I-hope-hurt.html#ixzz1EEmBfNax
