A THIEF punched a police dog repeatedly while holding its head underwater after being chased from the scene of a break-in at a car parts business.

Alexandu Chefor, 31, attacked the dog after it repeatedly bit him when he refused to stop for police after they were called to a break-in in Rochford on July.

Chefor, of Primrose Field, Harlow and his co defendant Nelutu Stanga, 45, both of Romanian descent, were sentenced at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

Prosecuting, Paul Valder, said: “On July 3 at about 7.10pm the business owner was alerted to the break in and that intruders were on the site.

“They were caught on CCTV breaking into the business, they cut a fence post and the damage caused was worth about £1,000.

Two catalytic converters were stolen which are worth about £1,000.

“The dog bit him a few times and Chefor was seen deliberately holding the dog’s head underwater. He then struck the dog twice to his head, punching it in a stabbing motion.”

The court heard Chefor was in breach of a suspended sentence which was handed to him by the courts following a burglary at a home and a driving offence.

Mitigating for Chefor Colin Pope said he has a wife and child and works as a painter.

Stanga, of Wokingham, Berkshire, who was unrepresented, told the court he was sorry via an interpreter.

Sentencing the pair Judge Ian Graham said: “Mr Chefor there are good things to be said about you but what you were thinking doing this is very difficult to comprehend.

“Mr Stanga, there’s considerable more matters in your mitigation and I do not believe you were the main person in this offending.”

Both admitted theft, going equipped for theft and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000. Chefor also admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and Stanga admitted possession of a bladed article.

Chefor was jailed for eight months after being sentenced to six months for each of the three counts, to be served concurrently, and two months for breaching his suspended sentence.

Stanga was handed a community order and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work.