Smiling face of ‘raging’ lady who stabbed neighbour in head after row over banging door
Helen Tillcock left Sarah Hodges with grave and life-threatening knife wounds to her head, face and upper body during a row over noise in Gillingham
She stabbed neighbour Sarah Hodges(Image: Kent Police / SWNS)
A woman has been found guilty of brutally stabbing her neighbour in a dispute over noise. Helen Tillcock inflicted “grave and life-threatening” knife injuries to Sarah Hodges’ head, face, and upper body during an altercation in the shared garden of their Gillingham property on Barnsole Road.
The 42 year old, described by her solicitor as a “depressed and isolated individual”, retaliated after Ms Hodges confronted her about door slamming in the early hours of 20 July last year. Despite having expressed a desire to kill her neighbour to her landlord just weeks prior, Tillcock claimed she was the victim and had acted in self-defence.
However, last week, at Maidstone Crown Court, a jury found her guilty of wounding Ms Hodges with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. She was cleared of the more severe charge of attempted murder.
Judge Catherine Moore adjourned sentencing to allow for a report assessing Tillcock’s potential danger. She encouraged Tillcock to cooperate with the probation service, as their evaluation would aid the court in determining suitable punishment.
During the trial, it emerged that the two women had been neighbours for approximately three years. Initially forming a slow-burning friendship, their relationship eventually soured.
It was reported that Tillcock would frequently slam a communal door outside Ms Hodges’s front door.
Ms Hodges, while testifying, told the court that the disturbance on that fateful night when she was watching Rocky on TV was “more than normal”. It involved Tillcock “slamming, banging and kicking” upon arriving home around 1.30am.
This resulted in “swearing, shouting and banging” from Ms Hodges before the women stepped outside and violence ensued.
Ms Hodges stated that she lost consciousness at one point and, upon regaining it, punched Tillcock three times. However, she didn’t notice the kitchen knife her neighbour was wielding until she returned to her flat and discovered she was drenched in blood.
She attempted to clean herself up but then, feeling faint, heard the sound of air escaping from what she described as “a real big hole” in her back, which led her to call the emergency services.
The assault left Ms Hodges needing treatment at King’s College Hospital in London for multiple injuries to her scalp, temple, ear, nose, upper chest wall, left shoulder, arm and underarm, as well as defensive wounds.
Meanwhile, police found Tillcock hiding in a cupboard in an unoccupied basement flat. When she emerged with a black eye and was informed of her arrest, she responded: “Because she attacked me.”
A subsequent examination of her phone revealed a series of messages to her landlord in which she had complained about Ms Hod.
Disturbing messages revealed Tillcock’s growing frustration, with one dated June 25 last year stating: “Sarah is a bloody nightmare at the moment. I want to kill her.”
Another message from April expressed her desperation, saying: “I don’t know how much more I can take before I explode. I really don’t feel comfortable in my home anymore”.
Further messages sent to a different contact just 12 days prior to the stabbing incident showed Tillcock’s increasing animosity towards Ms Hodges, describing her as “a proper c***”, “vile”, and “nasty”. Moreover, she threatened to harm Ms Hodges’ cat, as revealed in court.
The defence argued during the trial that the knife wounds were a result of Tillcock being overpowered and physically assaulted by a furious Ms Hodges. However, the jury delivered a guilty verdict.
Tillcock will remain in custody until her sentencing on April 27. The maximum sentence for wounding with intent is life imprisonment.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
