MICHAEL HILTON OF LEIGH SHAMES ANIMAL ABUSE IN WIGAN

Michael Hilton, born on February 14, 1962, and residing at 1 Sanderson’s Croft in Leigh, Wigan WN7 2BA, was recently convicted of a disturbing act of animal cruelty that took place in Leigh. The incident involved the brutal assault of his pet lurcher, named Ben, which was captured on a Ring doorbell camera and subsequently brought to the attention of the RSPCA.

On December 6 of the previous year, Hilton was recorded physically attacking Ben in a manner that the RSPCA described as a 'sustained physical attack.' The footage revealed Hilton kicking, punching, and stamping on the terrified dog multiple times. Specifically, he delivered eleven kicks, nine of which were forceful enough to cause Ben’s head and body to jerk backward from the impact. The assault also included strikes to the dog's upper neck and shoulder region, indicating a pattern of aggressive and unnecessary violence.

The distressing video footage was handed over to the RSPCA, prompting a thorough investigation. Following this, Hilton was interviewed by authorities and subsequently pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act during a court hearing held on April 13. The court proceedings highlighted the severity of the attack and Hilton’s acknowledgment of his actions.

During the court hearing, it was noted that immediately after the assault, Ben exhibited clear signs of fear and distress. The dog dropped to the ground and attempted to pull away from Hilton, but was restrained on a lead held by his owner, preventing him from escaping the violence.

Vicki Brooks, an inspector from the RSPCA who led the investigation, provided a detailed account of her observations. She stated, “I viewed the footage and saw a person enter the field of view from the left with a large light-colored dog that appeared to be on a lead held by that person and wearing a dark-colored muzzle. I saw the person forcefully kick, punch, and stamp on the dog, striking the animal a total of 12 times with a foot and two times with a hand. The dog could be seen trying to back away from the person. It was clear that the feet and hands made significant contact with the dog. The name and address provided for the person seen assaulting the dog in the footage was Michael Hilton.”

Ben has since been taken into the care of the RSPCA and is expected to be rehomed once he recovers from the trauma inflicted upon him.

In terms of sentencing, Hilton received a 12-month community order, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was ordered to pay costs amounting to £400. Furthermore, Hilton is subject to a five-year ban on keeping any animals, a restriction that will remain in effect until July 2028. This case has garnered attention from local and national news outlets, including Wigan Today and ITV News, highlighting the ongoing issue of animal cruelty and the importance of animal welfare enforcement in Leigh and beyond.