The owner of Rambo the mongrel, who died after a spell at Basildon police station, has found a new puppy to make him smile again.

The RSPCA and Essex police officers are working together to find out why the 11-year-old dog was left lying in a pool of his own blood for three hours on a cold police kennel floor.

The dog was taken to the police station after an accident. Officials are hopeful the investigation will reach a conclusion within a fortnight and are not ruling out the possibility of a prosecution.

George Chapman, Rambo's owner, is full of praise for the way police have treated him since the incident on Tuesday, April 13.

They even offered to help him find a puppy to provide a playmate for his other dog, Dixie, who was pining for his lost friend.

But the family managed to track down a puppy themselves at the weekend. The mongrel is just a few weeks old.

George said: "We won't be able to bring him home for about three weeks. He's black with a white front - just like Rambo. We did think about calling him Rambo II but we've decided on the name Rocky."

"The puppy is for all of us really. He won't take Rambo's place but he will be a mate for Dixie."

Supt Peter Blois at Basildon police station has kept in regular contact with the Chapman family.

He is already looking at putting in place new measures to make sure the tragedy can't happen again.

He said yesterday: "The investigation is ongoing but we hope it will be finalised in the next couple of weeks."

Chief Inspector for the RSPCA Essex, Andy Mitchell, added: "It is too early to say what will happen yet. We will interview a number of people before we put a case forward to the CPS - that's if we put a case forward."

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