The dogs were found in the back of Pc Johnson's car

A police dog handler who left his two German Shepherds to die in the back of his hot car has returned to work, Nottinghamshire police have confirmed.

Pc Mark Johnson, 40, was handed a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,500 after being convicted of animal cruelty in February.

He was suspended from the force following the trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

After a misconduct inquiry, he has returned to work as a response officer.

Pc 'forgot' dogs

The force said he was no longer working as a dog handler.

During the trial the court heard Pc Johnson was suffering from depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.

This led to him to forget that he had left the dogs in his car which was parked outside Nottinghamshire Police's Sherwood Lodge headquarters near Arnold on 30 June 2009.

The animals were in the car for seven hours in temperatures of 29.3C (84.7F), the court heard.

German Shepherds Jet, aged seven, and 18-month-old Jay-Jay, died possibly within 20 minutes from heatstroke which would have brought about multiple organ failure, the court was told.

A statement from Nottinghamshire Police said today: "Following a misconduct meeting, Pc Mark Johnson returned to work on April 29 as a response officer on D division (south Nottinghamshire)."

Nottinghamshire Police were criticised by district judge Tim Devas after the court heard Pc Johnson found it difficult to seek help for his problems.

Following the case the force said strict kennelling rules had been enforced and new ventilation systems had been added to vehicles.