Body worn footage captures the moment a motorcycle thief was arrested following a pursuit with a police dog.

Daniel Tolhurst attempted to evade arrest by speeding recklessly through Maidstone town centre on a stolen moped.

It comes after police in Coxheath had reported suspicious activity involving two motorcycles at 5am on Monday, November 11.

Further resources were deployed and shortly after a stolen moped was spotted by officers in Calder Road, Maidstone.

From here, Tolhurst as the rider led police on a pursuit as he ignored demands to stop, weaving his way through traffic at dangerous speeds.

After abandoning the moped in Gabriel’s Hill he attempted to escape by fleeing on foot.

The footage shows the moment police dog Boss quickly tracked the 23-year-old down and following his arrest a balaclava, hammers and wrench were found discarded nearby.

Tolhurst, of Linden Road, Coxheath, was charged with going equipped to steal, aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, and driving without a licence or insurance.

On November 13, he pleaded guilty at Medway Magistrates’ Court and was jailed for 44 weeks and banned from driving for a year.

He will also have to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling more than £250.

Maidstone Chief Inspector Mark McLellan said: “Following a spate of motorcycle thefts over recent weeks, our officers have been proactively patrolling the areas we believed were most at risk.

“This intelligence led response has helped us catch an offender in the act, and the discarded balaclava and tools were clearly indicative of Tolhurst’ s intention to commit further crime.

“Offenders like Tolhurst prey upon hard working and law-abiding residents, targeting vehicles and property with the aim of stealing anything they can get their hands on.

“On this occasion it is pleasing we can return the stolen moped to its rightful owner.

“Residents will hopefully also be reassured that Tolhurst has faced quick justice for his actions and is now rightly serving a custodial sentence.”