Brighton woman charged with stealing dog

A woman from Brighton has been charged with stealing a dog which was tied up outside a shop in the centre of town.

Helen Doyle, 35, of The Crestway in Hollingdean, has been charged with theft and is due to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday 20 February).

She is accused of taking the dog from outside Sainsbury’s in Old Steine, Brighton, on Sunday (17 February).

The dog’s owner called Sussex Police at about 6.50pm to report that her pet had been stolen.

On Tuesday (19 February) a woman was arrested on suspicion of theft and the dog was recovered.

PC Andrea Leahy, of the Brighton and Hove Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Incidents of this nature in which dogs are stolen from where they are tied up are very unusual but anyone who is concerned is advised to leave their dog where they can see it or leave someone with the dog at all times.”