A POLICE dog who protected his handler from a sword-wielding crook has retired from the North Yorkshire force.

PD Thor, a six-year-old German Shepherd, had worked alongside PC Martin Gayles, since 2014.

Working as a general purpose police dog, Thor helped to aid arrests, sniff out suspects, locate property and find missing people over the years.

He has now been retired on medical grounds after needing a knee replacement in 2017 for a tear to his cruciate ligament.

PD Thor has many notable achievements under his collar including guarding PC Gayles when he broke his leg in a 15ft fall while chasing a suspect.

Thor also protected PC Gayles when he was threatened by a man with a samurai sword in 2015.

PC Gayles: said he was “absolutely devastated” when he heard his four-legged friend had to be retired, adding: “Not only has he been amazing at his job he has been a loyal and much-loved part of our family.”