A DOG owner has been sentenced for leaving his pet in a van on one of the hottest days of 2017.

Rachid Serroukh left his Dutch Herder in the vehicle at The Gatehouse car park in Chichester for more than four hours on June 20.

A passer-by noticed the van was shaking, and inside was the dog in a major state of distress.

As officers arrived, 40-year-old Serroukh, who runs a security patrol company, returned to the vehicle.

The dog was taken straight to the local vet, seized from the owner and placed into the care of the RSPCA.

Serroukh, who lives near Canterbury, was charged with a responsible person failing to prevent the causing of unnecessary suffering to an animal as part of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court and was given 70 hours of unpaid work and a £300 fine on January 10.

PC Martin George, of the Chichester investigations team, said: “This dog is lucky to be alive and it is a sharp reminder to all drivers not to leave your dog in a hot car.

“We worked closely with the RSPCA and we are happy the dog has made a full recovery.”