A TEENAGER was caught by a police dog after ripping lead from the roof of a train station. The dog gave chase after Jack Hills was spotted taking more than £1,700 of metal from the c2c station in Thorpe Bay.

He was caught at about 1am on Saturday, April 9, after the dog caught up with him in a nearby street.

Hills, 18, of York Road, Southend, appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to theft.

The court heard he had a drug problem and had already been given a youth rehabilitation order for a previous offence.

He admitted failing to comply with the order by missing appointments on March 5 and 12.

In a police interview, Hills had said he was living rough and did not have the money to make the appointments.

He had been made redundant and had not been claiming Jobseekers’ allowance, because he was “too proud.”

In mitigation, George Lewzey said: “He’s trying to get a job in the building trade. He has no income. His family have been very supportive, in as much as they provided him with accomodation.

“They don’t want to give him money because they want him to spend it wisely and not on his drug problem, which is well documented in the report.”

Hills was given a 12-month supervision order, a requirement to attend a ten-day education, training and employment programme, and a drug rehabilitation requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge, which will be deducted from his Jobseekers’ allowance when he claims it.