SCOOBY the sniffer dog is a prison pooch with a price on his head.

The once-abandoned animal has been so successful in catching drug smugglers that the criminal fraternity have made numerous threats to kill him.

And in recognition of his hard work and skill in catching hundreds of couriers, Scooby and his handler John Reader were awarded the prison dog section's prestigious Brister Trophy.

John, who supervises Scooby's activities at HM Prison Garth, said many of those nabbed had made their way from East Lancashire to visit loved ones languishing in the Leyland jail.

He added: "In two and a half years, 127 visitors have received sentences up to and including five years. "Finds have ranged from £10 to £2,500. I am proud of him.

"But because of his success there have been a number of death threats against him. We have put special precautions in place to protect him."

John, who shares a secret Lancashire address with Scooby, said the Labrador had made a real impact on the prison drugs problem.

But he added: "Prisons are a reflection of our society. If you place all the drug dealers and addicts in one place you have to accept a drug problem.

"But Garth is at the forefront of recognising that."

The Brister Trophy is a national award for specialist search work.

It was first awarded in 1984, by the then Deputy Director Of General of the Prison Service, Bill Brister.

John added: "The fact that the criminal fraternity have noticed him shows that he must have made an impact."

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