Ipswich's 'Robocop' Sgt Ali Livingstone avoids snake arrest

The snake, a native of the USA, was about 2ft (0.6m) long

A police sergeant, dubbed Robocop for his arrest record, has said he was too afraid to pick up a snake on the loose in Ipswich.

The animal, believed to be a non-native corn snake, was found on Chevallier Street at 01:00 BST.

Sgt Ali Livingstone said he was fortunate he was with a colleague who owned snakes and was happy to catch it.

He said: "I promptly sat in the police car, locked the doors and told him he wasn't getting back in with it."

The snake was crossing Chevallier Street in west Ipswich in the early hours of Thursday

Other police officers handled the snake at the scene and back at Ipswich Police Station

Sgt Ali "Robocop" Livingstone did not add to his arrest record on Chevallier Street

In 2009, Sgt Livingstone was named the UK's top police officer in terms of arrests with 524 to his name.

The sergeant and his colleague, PC Ali Maidment, were called to Chevallier Street by Suffolk Police's armed response unit which happened to be in the area on patrol.

Sgt Livingstone said: "After a bit of negotiation with my colleague he told me he would look after it and we drove it to Ipswich Police Station with him just holding it in his hands.

"I'm not that keen on most animals and snakes would be at the bottom of my list."

The snake was about 2ft (0.6m) and sandy coloured.

Corn snakes are native to North America and they can grow up to about 6ft (1.8m) in length.

PC Alastair Maidment returned the snake to Jasmine at the police's Martlesham Heath headquarters

The snake, called Tenzin, was reunited with his owner Jasmine at Suffolk Police headquarters in the afternoon following media coverage.

Jasmine said he went missing on Tuesday and she was "really happy to have him back as reptiles are a passion of mine".

"This is the second time that he has managed to escape out of a tiny gap in his tank," she said.

"I'm so thankful to PC Maidment and Sgt Livingstone for safely returning him to me.

"They went above and beyond the call of duty."