out.

The former Olympic boxer, turned petty thief and drug abuser, started serving the first day of a three-year sentence yesterday, after pleading guilty to robbing two men in a public restroom, last year.

But before the Chief Justice, the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward, passed sentence, Hill, 42, took the offensive and launched an attack on the The Royal Gazette for constantly referring to him as a "former Olympic bronze medalist''.

"Every time I'm in trouble they explain that I won a bronze medal in 1976,'' he said. "But when I was doing well and at the height of my career they were not there.'' However this statement was contradicted by at least one man who was a close associate of Hill's from the beginning of his boxing career.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the man said that Hill's comments "needed to be taken with a grain of salt''.

"The Bermuda media did a good job covering him throughout his career,'' he added.

A check through back issues of the newspaper, revealed that Hill was featured on the front pages at least three different times between July 27 and August 3, 1976.

That does not include several stories in The Royal Gazette's sister publication The Mid-Ocean News.

Hill earlier pleaded guilty to robbing John Ross of $3 on September 30.

Ross encountered Hill inside the bathrooms at Albouy's Point on September 30.

As Ross attempted to leave, Hill put his arm across the door and demanded $10.

Realising that he was trapped, Ross began to scream but Hill told him the Police could not hear him and that he could knock him out.

Ross then gave him $3.

Two days later, on October 2, Hill was inside the bathroom when he spoke to Kern Posey, a crew member on board the cruise ship Sagafjord .

After finding out that Posey was a tourist, Hill told him "this is my bathroom and you have to give me $5''.

When Posey said that he did not have the money, Hill blocked the exit and struck him in the face cutting his lip.

An off-duty Police officer heard the confrontation and arrested Hill as he left the bathroom and made his way to Front Street.

Crown counsel Mr. Brian Calhoun pointed out that Hill committed these offences less than a year after he received a two-year suspended sentence for a robbery he committed on September 9, 1992.

In addition to the suspended sentence the court had ordered that he should attend church and Addiction Services.

Mr. Calhoun asked that the suspended sentence should be activated. Hill's lawyer Mr. Philip Perinchief, said that his client had attended church and Addiction Services but he backslid, and it was during this time that the offences occurred.

"I have an abiding confidence that his case is not altogether hopeless but he needs to be in a situation where he can make use of his skills -- he needs at least one chance to better himself.'' The Chief Justice sentenced Hill to three years for robbing Ross and two years for robbing Posey. Mr. Justice Ward also activated his two-year suspended sentence. All sentences will run concurrently.