PETER HILLIN ATTACKS DOG WITH AXE IN HUYTON - HORRIFIC INJURIES REVEALED

Peter Hillin, a resident of Ashbury Road in Huyton, Liverpool, was involved in a brutal incident that shocked the local community and led to his conviction. The events unfolded on a Sunday afternoon, December 3, 2017, when Hillin was found to have inflicted severe injuries on a dog named Neo using an axe. Hillin, born around 1971, had a reputation for claiming to love dogs more than people, a sentiment that starkly contrasted with the violent act he committed that day.

According to reports, neighbors in Huyton witnessed Hillin striking Neo with an axe, causing horrific injuries to the dog’s head and shoulder. The incident was so disturbing that several residents called the police, alarmed by the sight of Neo covered in blood and suffering from deep cuts. Witnesses described seeing Hillin with blood on his hands, and the injured dog was quickly attended to by emergency services upon their arrival.

Police officers arrived at Hillin’s home around 4 pm and immediately began administering first aid to Neo. The dog had sustained severe lacerations on his head and back, with injuries so grave that a veterinarian later performed surgery to repair a 4cm deep laceration on Neo’s head and a similar wound on his shoulder. The vet also identified puncture wounds consistent with bites from another dog, indicating that Neo had been involved in a violent altercation prior to the attack with the axe.

Hillin was arrested at his residence shortly after the incident. During his arrest, officers discovered that he had injuries to his hands, which he later received treatment for in hospital. Hillin initially claimed that he only used the handle of the axe to separate his dogs, Neo and Santos, after they attacked each other. He stated in court during a trial in April 2018 that he tried to stop the dogs from killing each other and that he put himself in harm’s way to do so. However, the court found his account to be inconsistent and concluded that Hillin had used the sharp end of the axe to inflict the injuries.

Both Neo and Santos, the other dog involved, sustained injuries but recovered fully. Neo was taken into police kennels at a cost of approximately £2,000 to the taxpayer. Santos, who only received minor injuries, was also cared for and later released. Prosecutor Jane Stacey emphasized that the injuries Neo suffered were consistent with multiple blows from the axe, and a veterinarian confirmed the severity of the wounds, which included a deep 4cm laceration on Neo’s head and a similar injury on his shoulder.

Hillin’s defense lawyer, Keith Webster, acknowledged the court’s verdict and stated that Hillin did not wake up intending to harm his dogs. Instead, Webster argued that the incident was triggered by a dog attack, which Hillin attempted to prevent. Webster described Hillin as a solitary individual who loved his dogs more than people and was not naturally inclined to social interactions.

In sentencing, Hillin received a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £1,100 in prosecution costs and was banned from keeping animals for ten years, a ban that will expire in May 2028. The case highlights the tragic consequences of animal violence and the importance of responsible pet ownership in communities like Huyton.