A POLICE dog has been praised for its work tracking a vandal for over a mile.

Scott Chapman, 38, of no fixed address, broke into The Sidings in Shipton-by-Beningbrough, on March 6, where witnesses reported him "shouting and screaming" at staff.

After causing damage to a fire door, Chapman fled across railway tracks and nearby fields, until Police Dog Thor managed to track him down.

PC Martin Gayles has been Thor's handler since last summer, and said: "I attended the area with PD Thor who was able to track the offender through fields and woods before finding him walking away from the area in another field.

"We tracked the male for approximately a mile which took us about 20 to 30 mins, although the male had about 20 mins head start. PD Thor performed very well that day and I was really proud of him."

Sotiris Monoyiou, owner of The Sidings, previously told The Press: "I’m very happy with how the police and the dog worked, he’s a clever dog."

PC Gayles said this was the latest success in Thor's career, and he hoped it would remind people of the importance of Police Dogs in the service.

He said: "So far he has helped locate criminals following a serious assault in York, assisted in searching and locating vulnerable and missing people across the county of North Yorkshire and also finding property which has been stolen.

"He performs very well at his job and I couldn’t be more pleased with him. He is a great Police Dog at work, and a loved member of the family at home. Police Dogs are a tremendous asset to the Police Force. Not only do they assist in combating crime and disorder but they offer reassurance to communities and the public."

Chapman previously appeared at York Magistrates’ Court and admitted a charge of criminal damage to a fire door, and on Monday was given a 12-month conditional discharge.