FIRE HERO’S AXE RAMPAGE OVER DOGS
Pup owner targeted house after attack
A HERO ex-firefighter took an axe to the home of a man whose dog savaged his labradoodle.
Peter Paterson, 58, who was honoured for bravery during the Glasgow Airport terror attack, smashed a window at Mark Doyle’s home.
When Mark came to investigate the noise, Paterson asked him: “Recognise me?”
A court was told the accused targeted the property because his puppy had been attacked by Mar k ’ s St af f i eAmerican pit bull cross.
Paterson got drunk, armed himself with the hatchet and went to the house late on August 19.
Procurator fiscal depute Sobia Kidd said: “The witness Mr Doyle was at his home address on the evening in question when he heard a loud noise coming from the rear of the property.
“He then heard a noise coming from the front of the property and observed a window at the front of the property to be smashed. He saw Mr Paterson holding an axe in his hand.
“Mr Paterson said to the witness, ‘Recognise me?’”
Neighbours in Neilston, Renfrewshire, called police, who traced the suspect, arrested him and found the axe the following day.
Paterson was a senior firefighter based in the town until his retirement in 2015.
Defence agent Paul Coyle told Paisley Sheriff Court his client was a first offender. He said: “His nine-month-old labradoodle puppy had been attacked and severely injured by Mr Doyle’s dog, which is described as a Staffordshire bull terrierAmerican bull terrier cross.
“This attack on his dog in Neilston resulted in Mr Paterson’s dog being seriously injured.
“He also had taken a drink for the first time in 13 years at the time of the event, and this clearly had an effect over his loss of self control, given the amount of alcohol he had consumed.
“He was feeling very distressed at the time.”
Paterson pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and smashing a window.
Sheriff James Spy deferred sentence until January 29 and ordered him to be of good behaviour while the costs of damage to the house are paid.