Former world boxing champion Dave Hilton, who is back in court over his alcohol problems, which this time led to a fight between neighbors, assures that he no longer drinks.
“I go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every week, I’ve done therapy,” he recently told Judge Joey Dubois at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield courthouse.
The 59-year-old former pugilist had just pleaded guilty to making death threats. The alleged acts occurred in May 2022. There was an argument with a neighbor and the police were called.
When officers arrived, the defendant was angry and visibly drunk. Hilton then said that if his neighbor ever dared to look at him through the window of his house, he would hit him over the head with a baseball bat.
He felt spied on
The ex-boxer had the impression that his neighbor was spending the time spying on him.
“They were more than that, they were a gang,” Dave Hilton said in the courtroom.
Before the judge made a verdict, the defendant’s lawyer wanted to prove that his client had now regained control.
Dave Hilton has actually gotten into trouble more than once in recent years, and each time alcohol was involved, noted prosecutor Cynthia Perreault.
In January 2020 he was charged with assault and threats to kill. When he appeared before the judge he was still drunk. He was subsequently banned from drinking alcohol in connection with another case in Montreal. He was sentenced to 30 days in prison.
On the way to rehabilitation
“This is the first time he has done something to improve himself,” Me Perreault added in the courtroom.
The defendant’s lawyer, Mr. Olivier Cusson, intends to present to the judge the different stages of his client’s rehabilitation before imposing a sentence.
The case returns next December.
Dave Hilton had already admitted in an interview that he had serious alcohol problems, which had caused him several problems.
Remember, he has already been sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting his two daughters.
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