#MostEvil | James David Robert Hill, born 22/07/1993, and younger brother Thomas Elliott Hill, born 25/07/1994, originally from Bolsover, Chesterfield – punched and kicked a blind and deaf dog to death.

In 2015 Bolsover brothers and violent career criminals Thomas and James Hill subjected elderly mongrel Tyson to a terrifying ordeal while they were high on the drug MCAT and drunk,

Magistrates heard James Hill used a poker to kill Tyson – after the dog was thrown across a room, and kicked and punched by the pair.

Prosecuting solicitor Rod Chapman said: “Thomas picked up Tyson and threw him across the room.

“As the dog was mid-air, James punched it. Witnesses said this was repeated a second time. James then kicked the dog.

“The witnesses said they were appalled but didn’t intervene because they feared the brothers would turn on them.”

John Wilford, mitigating, said James Hill – who arrived at court almost two hours late – admitted using a poker to kill the animal. A vet’s report concluded the dog died because of blunt trauma to his head.  He also suffered a broken jaw and a tooth was knocked out.

The brothers pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal  after originally pleading not guilty.

James Hill – who at the time had 17 previous convictions – admitted criminal damage and arson and Thomas Hill – who had racked up seven previous convictions – also admitted arson.

The brothers showed no remorse as they were each sentenced to 23 weeks in prison.

Sentence: 23 weeks in prison 

Metro

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Updates

In April 2020 James Hill, now homeless and “couch surfing”, was jailed for 66 weeks after attacking a mum-of-two who had offered him shelter. Hill also threatened the victim with a knife before fleeing her address with her mobile phone. The court heard that Hill’s “extensive” previous convictions included burglary, assault, assaulting a police officer, harassment and breaching court orders.

His lawyer told the court his client had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and while in custody has been diagnosed with ADHD “which he thinks played some part in the commission of this offence”.

James Hill was already serving a suspended sentence imposed in September 2018 for assaulting a man. The report on that case said that Hill, whose address was given c/o The Lighthouse Project in Shirebrook, Mansfield, had “27 court appearances for 44 offences to his name”.

In June 2020, Thomas Hill was jailed for one year after forcing his way into a woman’s home and punching her in the face. At the time of the attack Hill, who was armed with a large knife, was living in Matlock, Derbyshire but the press gave his address as White Thorns View, Sheffield.

In November 2020 Thomas Hill, who according to the article now lives in Aston, Birmingham, was jailed for 15 months for a hit and run offence. Hill’s lawyer told the court his client had a life “dogged by problems” adding that he had “a quick temper [and] reacts badly and reacts without any thought of the consequences.”

Thomas Hill and Janet McGovern, the mother two of his children, are no longer together. She remains in Bolsover so he retains links to the area.

In December 2021 James Hill, now of Long Lane, Shirebrook, was jailed for 14 days due to “flagrant disregard for court orders”. He was found guilty of failing to comply with supervision requirements following release from prison.

On 14 August 2022 Derbyshire Constabulary reported on Facebook that James Hill was charged with attempted murder after a teenage boy was stabbed in the neck, suffering “life-changing” injuries. Hill was also charged with:

• Threats to kill
• False imprisonment
• Possession of a knife in public.
• Arson with intent to endanger life
• Affray
• Two counts of criminal damage
• Four counts of common assault of an emergency worker

In December 2022 it was reported that Hill admitted to stabbing the youth before going on to damage both a house and a car – and then assaulting police officers.

The original charge of attempted murder was dropped in favour of a lesser charge of wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm as an alternative.

As well as the wounding with intent charge, the defendant, of Dale Road, Matlock Bath, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in public, affray, two counts of criminal damage and two counts of assault of an emergency worker, all relating to the same incident.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, two counts of false imprisonment, one of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, four other counts of assault of an emergency worker and a second count of affray, all of which the prosecution will not proceed with.

Hill was remanded in custody pending a sentencing date of early 2023.

DerbyshireLive

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Additional Information

August 2022: James Hill has a new Facebook profile under the name Jay Hilly.