A police dog has been credited for helping to catch a woman who held a shopkeeper at knifepoint. 

PD Tygo was called in to trace Justine Roberts after she had attempted to rob Benfleet Wine back in February. 

Officers remained in their cars to allow the Tygo to track Roberts from the scene.

During the search, two items of clothing were found which were taken as evidence and helped police find Roberts. 

It took detectives three days to confirm Roberts as the suspect and officers then arrested her from her home in Abbotswood, Benfleet. 

She was subsequently charged with, and admitted, attempted robbery and threatening another with a knife.

Roberts was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court last week to four years in prison for the attempted robbery and six months in prison for the knife offence, to run concurrently.

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PC Emma Adam of Castle Point CID, who led the investigation, said: “Roberts launched an unprovoked attack on the cashier, who was just doing his job and my team worked quickly to make sure she was apprehended.

“She will now spend a considerable time in jail for her actions that night.

“I am also pleased we have been able to secure a restraining order which bans her from going to the shop in the future. 

"We are committed to tackling crime in Castle Point and protecting victims of crime.”

Officers hailed PD Tygo after the sentencing in a post of Facebook, where they said he had used "the expertise of his nose to help colleagues bring the offender to justice".