Bar Brawl Turned Stabbing Horror in Matlock
James Hill was thrown out of the Rubigo bar in Matlock on August 12, 2022, after a row involving his girlfriend. But the violence didn’t stop there.
Return to Chaos: Furious Mob Attacks Bar
An hour later, Hill and a group returned at 8:30pm, trying to storm the pub. The bar manager shut the door as they hurled stools and signs, smashing the front in a desperate attempt to get inside.
Teen Worker Stabbed Trying to Help
Seventeen-year-old victim, working behind the bar alongside his mother, stepped in to help disperse the crowd. He was brutally stabbed in the neck during the chaos.
The teen bled heavily. Bystanders rushed to stem the flow while emergency services were called. A trauma surgeon, first on the scene, was hailed by the judge for life-saving quick action.
The victim was airlifted to hospital, having lost a litre of blood, and underwent emergency surgery.
Perpetrator Caught After Hostage Standoff
After stabbing the boy, Hill fled to his Matlock Bath home, unsure if the teen had survived. Police found him holding people hostage inside.
Hill threw items from the top floor and made threats before officers arrested him. At hospital, he spat blood at officers.
Hill Slapped with a 12-Year Prison Sentence
The 29-year-old, formerly of Dale Road, Matlock Bath, was initially charged with attempted murder. He pled guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon, affray, criminal damage, and assaulting emergency workers.
On April 4, at Derby Crown Court, Hill was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, plus a 4-year extension for dangerousness. He must serve at least eight years before parole eligibility.
