PD Louie sniffs out sex offender's hidden devices

When it comes to catching sex offenders, we use every tool at our disposal.

And now that includes our four-legged friends in the force’s Dog Section with the introduction of new Digi Dogs.

You might be used to seeing our clever police dogs sniff out drugs, weapons and cash, but our newest recruits have a nose for another specialism – devices.

The force has arrested three registered sex offenders in recent months alone after the dogs hunted out hidden devices storing criminal material.

And just in October, PD Louie and handler PC Dan Cuthbertson assisted the force’s Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders Unit (MOSOVO) following the arrest of high risk registered sex offender, Jonathan Deric Stuart, in the Bishop Auckland area.

The 36-year-old was suspected of possessing indecent images of children and Louie was vital in sniffing out a mobile phone believed to have been used in the offence which was hidden in a draw.

He also located several covert USB pens disguised as lighters and hard drives which were also seized.

Stuart was arrested at the scene, charged with multiple breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and remanded into custody.

PD Louie was rewarded with his favourite ball.

Stuart was initially due to go to trial but changed his plea to guilty and put before Durham Crown Court yesterday (April 3) where he was sentenced to two years in prison.

His devices will also be destroyed.

A MOSOVO officer said: “The use of our digital dogs is a massive asset to our unit because it identifies those dishonest people who try to feed their offending behaviour by hiding devices from being examined.

“Now with this support, we can address this head on and it further enhance the way we can keep the public safe.”