WILLIAM HILL FROM FORFAR CONVICTED OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN DUNDEE, KIRRIEMUIR, AND KEMNAY

A man known for his violent and controlling behavior has been found guilty of a series of serious domestic abuse offenses spanning several years and multiple locations, including Dundee, Kirriemuir, and Kemnay in Aberdeenshire. William Hill, a resident of Brechin Road in Forfar and employed as a barber, has a long history of abusive conduct towards women, which has now culminated in a conviction for 12 separate charges dating from 2017 to 2024.

Throughout his trial, Hill vehemently denied any wrongdoing. He attempted to shift blame onto a controlling former girlfriend, claiming she was responsible for the breakdown of one of his previous relationships. During proceedings, he also offered various excuses for his aggressive and threatening messages, including a particularly alarming text in which he stated, "I will kill anyone you’re with, I swear."

Evidence presented in court detailed Hill’s relentless harassment of former partners. His actions included making threatening phone calls and sending intimidating texts, as well as physically assaulting women. One of the most disturbing incidents involved Hill holding a woman captive within his flat, an act that demonstrated the extent of his controlling and abusive tendencies. Witnesses also recounted how he mocked a woman about the tragic stillbirth of her child, adding a deeply personal and cruel element to his pattern of abuse.

Further accounts revealed Hill’s efforts to isolate his partners from other men. He demanded that they sever all contact with male acquaintances and even attempted to prevent one woman from speaking to a workman at her home. Such behavior underscores his manipulative and coercive approach to controlling his partners’ lives.

During the trial, Hill maintained his innocence, dismissing the allegations and blaming his ex-girlfriend for his actions. Despite his denials, the court heard that Hill had previously served time for similar offenses. Although his prior convictions were not disclosed during this trial, the jury found him guilty of all 12 charges. These charges covered incidents in various locations, including Dundee, Kirriemuir, and Kemnay, and spanned over a period of several years.

William Hill, who was remanded into custody following his conviction, is scheduled to face sentencing later this summer. Sheriff William Wood expressed strong criticism of Hill’s conduct and his criminal history, stating, "You’ve been offending in a domestic way since 2008, and you’re duplicitous, deceitful, controlling, and did nothing but lampoon the witnesses. There’s no justification for you to remain at liberty."

Details of Hill’s abusive behavior include banning a former girlfriend from contact with other men, holding her against her will, assaulting her in a nightclub, and attacking another woman in Kirriemuir by pushing her against a cupboard, grabbing her by the neck, and issuing threats. His past was also highlighted from a 2015 hearing when, then known as James Simpson, he admitted to multiple assault and stalking charges, which resulted in a prison sentence of three years and four months. Sheriff Carmichael, who presided over that case, warned Hill about his ongoing pattern of controlling and violent behavior, acknowledging some remorse but condemning his continued offending.