Stolen sniffer dog found in van

Jude was discovered unhurt but very hungry

A military sniffer dog which was stolen along with a Ministry of Defence van has been found, police said.

Black Labrador Jude was discovered unhurt but hungry in the back of the vehicle two days after the van was snatched by thieves in Leicestershire.

The 18-month-old dog will resume her training before going abroad next year.

The white van was stolen along with a length of dangerous wire fuse during an exercise in Old Dalby last Wednesday near Melton Mowbray.

Very hungry

The van was found in a pub car park in Harby on Friday evening after a call from a member of the public, Leicestershire Police said.

It is thought the dog had been fed nothing, or very little, during the two days she was missing.

Flt Lt Karim Cosslett, from the Defence Animal Centre, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have Jude back with us safe and well.

"Apart from being very hungry she is absolutely unhurt."

The van was seen leaving the village with a white 4x4, which may have been a Mitsubishi Shogun or an Isuzu Trooper, said police.

It is now being examined by forensics officers.

The centre is the military's leading canine and equine training centre in the UK.