Mum ‘genuinely believed she would die’ as she was attacked with samurai sword

A mum "genuinely believed she would die" as she was repeatedly attacked with a samurai sword. Anthony Hill repeatedly "tortured" the victim in his flat over the course of several days, also stubbing a cigarette out on her and urinating on her during a "harrowing ordeal". She suffered numerous broken bones across her body, including both arms, before managing to flee the horrific violence when her assailant fell asleep.

Liverpool Crown Court[1] heard yesterday, Friday, that the 42-year-old and the complainant, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, were "known to each other through a common interest in drugs". Hill had "allowed her to stay" at his address on Doulton Street in St Helens[2] prior to the incident in February last year when she became homeless.

Michael Scholes, prosecuting, said: "Both were drug addicts, and the victim financed her addiction primarily by working as a street worker.

The crown's case was that the defendant was her drug dealer. "The primary motive for the prolonged assault appeared to have been that the victim had taken drugs from the defendant, and also had spent money that he had given her for clothes on drugs. The defendant appears to have been motivated by the victim's unwillingness to enter into a relationship.

"The evidence was harrowing in relation to the ordeal that the victim suffered over a period of days. This victim was subjected to a series of vicious assault involving the use of weapons." These included a "wooden samurai sword", or a bokken, and "repeated use of a shoed foot, as well as punching and slapping".

The mum also had a cigarette stubbed out on her shoulder, was kicked in the vagina several times and was "humiliated" by being forced to sit on the floor of the shower and urinated on. Hill meanwhile threatened to sexually assault her with a bottle. What were described as "punishment beatings" were occasionally paused while she was allowed to sleep on his bedroom floor "like a dog".

He had kept a "large amount of furniture" blocking the exit to his property, which he claimed was due to the front door being "insecure". The woman waited until he fell asleep after several days of assaults and managed to escape by moving a sofa out of the way, despite having suffered fractures to her left and right forearms. She was said to have sustained "extensive" injuries "consistent with severe beatings", also including fractures to her chest bone, jaw and nose as well as six broken ribs to the left side and one on the right-hand side.

She suffered "puncture wounds to the lower legs" and would later spend four days in hospital, while she will be left with a permanent scar on her face. The victim also reported she had been subjected to two other assaults in the lead up to the incident. In one, Hill hit her and "threatened her with an iron and a hammer".

They then "made up their differences", but she was attacked again and left with a split lip after she reportedly stole drugs from him while he was at a friend's house. Having fled this assault, he and "another male" located her and "frogmarched her back to the flat". Mr Scholes said that she had then been "tortured".

He added: "This was a pre-planned and persistent assault. "We say this was revenge for not doing what he wanted. There was gratuitous degradation of the victim."

In spite of her ultimate escape, Hill proceeded to attempt to "hunt her down". In a series of text messages found on his phone in the aftermath, he stated that he was "looking for her" and dished out threats both to her and "anyone who was good enough to help her". A statement read out to the court on her behalf described how she had to be relocated out of the Merseyside area following the incident, with the previous victim of domestic abuse saying: "I've still never experienced pain like it, and I've given birth twice.

Even now, a year later, I still experience pain and discomfort. "I still have sleepless nights when I replay in my mind some of the assaults I was subjected to. I still have days where I'm so consumed by what I suffered that I don't want to face the outside world, so I hide away from it.

"The trial brought back all those feelings. I still hold genuine concerns and fear that Hill will come and hurt me further." She described Hill as a "very dangerous and well connected man", adding: "That frightens me.

I'm now clean and no longer a drug addict. I am trying to return into my children's lives. I hope my children will be able to accept and forgive me."

Hill is already subject to an imprisonment for public protection, imposed in 2008 after a robbery in which he raided a shop at knifepoint and stabbed a member of the public when confronted. He was freed from prison in relation to this sentence in 2014, but remains on life licence. Ian Morris, defending, told the court: "He maintains his innocence in relation to the offence.

Whether it was because someone decided that it wasn't in the public interest or there wasn't sufficient evidence, he wasn't charged with drug offences. "It may be harsh to come to the conclusion that he was a dealer of drugs. His position means he cannot be released until the parole board deem it appropriate."

Hill was found guilty of wounding with intent by a jury following a trial, but cleared of false imprisonment. He was jailed for 12 years and handed an additional four-year licence period. Sentencing, Judge Charlotte Crangle said: "She was addicted to class A drugs and would engage in sex work in order to fund this.

You knew this, and you knew that she was homeless at the time. "You knew only too well that this made her vulnerable, and you preyed on these vulnerabilities. It was clear that she was in significant fear from you because of the power that you had over her.

"You essentially were treating her as a punchbag whenever she did anything to displease you. You continued to treat her worse than an animal when she got back to the flat. "You used your fists, your feet and the sword.

This was a prolonged, persistent attack. "You went on to assault her repeatedly, over and over for a couple of days. This was gratuitous degradation in the extreme.

"The injuries you caused were extensive. She genuinely believed she would die in your flat because of what you did to her. "Fuelled by sheer adrenaline and willpower, she fled while you were sleeping.

You attempted to hunt her down, threatening those who were prepared to give her sanctuary. "She cannot rid herself of the fear she still feels of you seeking revenge. The level of sheer terror she displayed indicates that she still fears you and the prospect that you will one day wreak your revenge on her."

Hill reacted by smiling and nodding as he zipped up his coat before placing his hands in the pockets of his jacket. He was also subjected to an indefinite restraining order. Senior crown prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk, from the Crown Prosecution Service Mersey-Cheshire, said following the sentencing: "This was a sustained and harrowing attack on one of the most vulnerable people in our society.

The complainant here was dependent upon controlled drugs which were provided by Mr Hill. "She financed her addiction through sex work. She was rough sleeping at the time.

"Mr Hill used these factors to exert control over the complainant. Mr Hill used various weapons, including a samurai sword, to assault the complainant over a period of days. "He subjected her to humiliating and degrading treatment.

He repeatedly urinated on the complainant. "Her injuries were extensive - a fractured chest bone, fractured ribs and arms and a cigarette burn, described in court as consistent with torture. The bravery of the complainant in giving evidence was key to the presentation of the prosecution case and a successful conviction.

"The Crown Prosecution Service would like to thank her for her support. Merseyside Police worked with the charities Red Umbrella and Changing Lives to ensure that the complainant was provided with a package of support throughout the case. "Their work has been vital here and, again, the CPS would like to thank them.

This case shows that the CPS, the police and other agencies can successfully work together to support even the most vulnerable complainants to give their best evidence and secure a conviction. "The judge determined that Mr Hill, considering his extensive history of offending, was an especially dangerous offender and he has been sentenced to 12 years in custody with an extended licence of a further four years. He will not pose a threat to other vulnerable people for some time."

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References

1. ^ Liverpool Crown Court (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^ St Helens (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ Driver 'drank gin and snorted cocaine while watching Netflix' before fatal crash (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^ Man pleads 'absolutely not guilty' to violent brawl that left young man fighting for his life (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^ Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)