A hero police dog which held on to a suspect despite being slashed with a machete has won a bravery award.
Stark was struck more than 20 times by the sharp blade of a 17-year old boy who was suspected of suspect behaviour in a Birmingham allotment linked to gangs.
The suspect fled after PC Paul Hopley arrived at the Handsworth location at 4am on November 14, last year.
Stark pursued the suspect and grabbed onto him, allowing PC Hopley catch up and to use an incapacitating agent to disorientate him.
The cop saw Stark getting beaten with what looked like a stick, Coventry Live reports.
(Image: West Midlands Police / SWNS)
He later realised it was actually a machete – and that Stark’s injuries were very serious.
In the vicious attack, the dog nearly lost its eye and suffered severe cuts to his face.
The horrific injuries inflicted on the brave sidekick by PC Hopley are clearly shown in the audio and footage released.
PC Hopley said on the call: “He had a machete and was attacking my dog with it. The dog’s injured. The dog found him and he ran off, the dog gave chase and he attacked the dog with a machete.”
(Image: West Midlands Police / SWNS)
The stunned cop later added: “Stark was hit over 20 times but he didn’t yelp, he didn’t leave him or run back to me for protection.
“He was such a young, inexperienced dog but he stayed on task and, despite being viciously attacked, he never backed down.
“Stark suffered nasty cuts to his face, with one blow narrowly missing an eye, but thankfully he’s made a full recovery and his policing career is flourishing.”
(Image: West Midlands Police / SWNS)
A 17-year-old boy was sentenced to eight months’ detention for the cruel attack.
He was convicted of Stark’s unnecessary suffering and possession of a machete at a public location.
Legal reasons for not naming the boy.
Despite being told to put the weapon down, the teen “continued to swing the machete wildly”, prosecutors told Birmingham Crown Court in February.
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The Thin Blue Paw awards presented a bravery award to the acclaimed police dog.
After finishing his training, Stark will now be a firearms assistance dog.
Stark was reported to have helped police find a suspect who had been hiding on a roof after his recovery.