Man fined for drink driving after police dog died

PD Bert was a sniffer dog with Cleveland Police

A man has been fined for drink driving in a crash that led to a police dog, that took part in Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, being put down.

PD Bert, a five-year-old springer spaniel belonging to Cleveland Police, was put to sleep due to the severity of his injuries after his dog support unit vehicle collided with a BMW in Hartlepool on 17 July.

Appearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court, Brian Mcloughlin, 33, of Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to drink driving and was disqualified from driving for 16 months and ordered to pay £168.

An officer has now been issued a fine and penalty points on his licence for driving without due care and attention, Cleveland Police said.

Mcloughlin was told he could decrease his driving disqualification by 16 weeks if he completed a drink driving rehabilitation course.

PD Bert had served with the force as a sniffer dog for three-and-a-half years.

He was deployed to London in September 2022 as part of the policing operation for the late Queen's funeral.

PD Bert, along with another dog and their police handler, had been responding to an emergency incident when the crash occurred.