A man was arrested after a spate of vandalism in Crawley and a struggle with police which resulted in a police dog being kicked and punched.

Just over half an hour after receiving reports of a man damaging wing mirrors and wipers on cars in the Northgate area, officers spotted and approached the suspect in Ilfield Avenue.

During an ensuing struggle, police dog Finn, which had helped to track the suspect, was hit.

A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, theft and causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, following the incident, which took place from 4 o’clock on Saturday morning.

Finn was not injured in the incident.