BUNGLING burglars Mark Salter and Tony Buckley left their getaway car at the scene of their crime and a tell-tale trail of muddy footprints across fields.

They were no match for police dog Hero who followed their scent two miles across farmland to a pub. There, the hapless pair were caught redhanded - with their loot and car keys.

After the two appeared before Bicester magistrates, Hero's handler Pc Rob Skinner said: "Hero is a very good tracker, a very methodical dog. He was really tugging at the leash that night. I knew we were going to find something pretty soon."

Salter and Buckley, both 25, stole £5,000 worth of jewellery and camera equipment after breaking into a house in Baynards Green, near Bicester. They fled across muddy fields to the Bear pub, at Souldern, leaving their Austin Montego on the drive of the house.

The owner came home and raised the alarm. Thames Valley Police swooped with several police cars, the police helicopter and tracker dogs. Pc Skinner and Hero picked up the burglars' scent and followed them to the pub.

Once caught the men led officers to the rest of the stolen property which had been stashed in nearby fields. Ben Hargreaves, defending, said they had seen a window open at the house as they drove past.

He said: "It was an opportunistic ill-thought out crime but there had been no violence and they co-operated fully with police after being caught."

Salter, of Roydon Close, Luton, and Buckley, of Thrales Close, Luton, pleaded guilty. Magistrates committed the pair to crown court for sentencing and remanded them in custody.

Salter also appeared charged with attempting to escape from the dock at Bicester Magistrates Court during an earlier hearing on February 9. He is due to appear before magistrates for committal to crown court on March 23.

Buckley had also tried to slash his wrists in the dock at another hearing.

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