A police officer and his dog faced a terrifying situation when they confronted an armed and violent man on a train at Catford station.

PC Craig Howarth was carrying out enquiries when he got the urgent call message to go to the station.

He was told a man with a sharp object had boarded a train and started attacking passengers as well as hurting himself.

PC Howarth and his trusty companion police dog Jax rushed to the station and boarded the train where they found Mark Paul Abraham.

Abraham, 26, from the Isle of Sheppey, was on the train between Gillingham and London Victoria and threatening a guard with a smashed vodka bottle.

Abraham also attacked other passengers, believing they were laughing at him.

He threatened to kill one man, threw his shoe at a woman and punched the train guard.

PD Jax, a specially trained five-year-old Belgium Malinois, managed to distract the armed man long enough for PC Howarth to restrain him using a Taser and get him and other passengers to safety.

PC Howarth and Jax this week received a British Transport Police Chief Constable's Commendation for their bravery in managing to restrain the violent man and keep passengers safe during the incident on November 2, 2016.

PC Howarth said: “I am honoured to be awarded this commendation today.

“The suspect was extremely violent and posed a significant risk to members of the public.”

Abraham later pleaded guilty to assault, affray and obstructing a train by unlawful act.

He was jailed for 20 months on August 21 last year.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Ross McAlpine said: “In his drunken state, Abraham subjected passengers to a terrifying ordeal. He went from carriage to carriage, attacking and threatening innocent people.

“Fortunately, our officers were able to quickly board the train and were able to detain him.

"We will never tolerate violence and will work hard to ensure that suspects are quickly detained and brought before the courts.

“I would like to thank and applaud the bravery of the train guard and passengers on the train that evening. Knowing full well how dangerously Abraham was acting, they challenged his behaviour and may have prevented the incident from becoming more serious."