A POLICE dog has been praised after taking down a dangerous driver as he ran through a field to escape police.

Darrell Patterson, 24, had been driving a Vauxhall Zafira through Gateshead on January 8 when police signalled for him to stop.

He refused to pull over and led police on a high-speed pursuit through the Winlaton, Greenside, Ryton, Swalwell and Crawcrook areas.

Eventually he dumped his vehicle in a car park in Blaydon and ran through a field.

But he was in custody a short time later after the police helicopter helped guide dog handler PC Adam Fegan to the suspect.

He let PD Max off his leash and the five-year-old Dutch Herder was seen on helicopter footage racing through the field and tackling Patterson to the ground.

He was arrested by police and charged with dangerous driving after receiving treatment in hospital for dog bites to his arm.

Patterson, of Dale View Gardens, Crawcrook, admitted the offence and on Wednesday he was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.

Superintendent Helena Barron said: “PD Max was really determined. If you try and run from police then you should expect to be captured, particularly when we are in a position to deploy our dogs.”