X-rays of police dog show how rioter shattered his skull with a brick... but brave Obi STILL patrolled streets for hours

These X-rays show for the first time the shocking injuries inflicted on an innocent police dog's skull when thugs threw bricks, bottles and petrol bombs at him during the London riots.

Brave three-year-old German shepherd Obi continued to patrol the streets for two hours despite having multiple fractures above his left eye and blood pouring from his nose.

The disturbing images show that Obi's skull was simply smashed after one looter threw a brick into his head in Tottenham on August 6. 

Surgeons from The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital at the University of Cambridge have used CT scans to create a 3D model of Obi's injuries.

This x-ray of the top of Obi's head shows the level of damage to his skull. Above his left eye you can see the bone is fractured and partially caved in

From the side: Obi's skull looks just as bad with the shattered area showing the level of damage the brick had caused

Despite the severity of the fractures, a hospital spokesman revealed today that Obi is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries and will return to duty.

He was one of at least five dogs to be injured among the 40 deployed across London on riot duty.  

'The image clearly shows the impact site of the brick and surrounding bone damage, but thankfully there [was] no evidence of gross haemorrhage around the brain or fractures of the brain case,' the spokesman said.

His handler, PC Phil Wells, who has trained the dog since he was eight-weeks old, described him as his 'best mate', and was with him that night.

The brave police dog has a mark above his left eye where he was injured but he is going to return to front line policing

'To his credit he carried on and continued to do the job that he's trained to do.' 

Speaking about the incident earlier this month he said: Obi is trained in public order, and that may be dispersing a crowd or pushing them back. We were on a stationary point when we came under heavy bombardment. 

'There were lots of missiles coming at us, bottles, bricks, petrol bombs, street furniture, too many to count and one hit Obi on the top of the head.

Constable Phil Wells of the Metropolitan Police Dog Support Unit says Obi is his 'best mate'

'Initially he was a bit shocked but I gave him a check-over and tried to avoid any further injuries and after the initial shock he seemed fine so we carried on for another couple of hours.

'Afterwards he was assessed and was showing signs he needed veterinary help. 

'He was lethargic and was bleeding from the left nostril which could be a sign of head trauma so he was taken to the vet.'

Obi received emergency treatment at Mandeville Veterinary Hospital, in Northolt, north west London, and is now recovering at home in West Drayton, north-west London.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the organisation wished Obi 'a speedy and full recovery' but added that he was unlikely to return to work for several months.

by dailymail.co.uk