Richard Hillman

{{Coronation_Street_character|character_name=Richard Hillman|actor_name=Brian Capron|years=2001-2003|dob= |death=12 March 2003|status=Deceased|occupation=Financial Advisor|family= Alma HalliwellRichard Hillman was a character in Coronation Street played by Brian Capron.

Hillman, a financial advisor and claiming to be a relative of Alma Baldwin, first appeared at Alma's funeral in the summer of 2001. A charming con man, there was subsequent speculation that Hillman was not a relative of Alma but simply an opportunist. He quickly became friends with Gail Platt and eventually moved in with her. He quickly won the hearts of Gail's children, Sarah-Louise and David, by buying them expensive gifts.

Hillman's dealings were questioned after some elderly people had lost their savings to him. He set up a business called Kellett Holdings, primarily centred around buy-back mortgates, and went into business with Duggie Ferguson. They set up a string of council flats, but Duggie tried to cut corners with Richard. Hillman confronted Duggie at the flats when Duggie fell several floors and was critically injured. He not only didn't help, but he also robbed Duggie of his money. Duggie died the next day and was found by Gail.

Hillman's second wife Patricia came to Weatherfield and wanted her half of the business. Hillman refused and, after a heated argument at the flats, smashed Patricia in the face with a spade, killing her immediately. Her body was buried in the foundations of the flats. One regular, Norris Cole, suspected that Hillman was up to no good, but Hillman bullied him into silence. Several months later Hillman and Gail married.

Over the following months, his business going downhill, Richard found out that his mother in law, Audrey Roberts, was worth £250,000. Over the next few months, he convinced Audrey that she was going insane, then tried to kill her in a house fire. She survived and eventually realised that Hillman was trying to kill her. She tried to warn her daughter of his shady dealings, but instead was chucked out of the house. Audrey and a friend tried to expose Hillman, but were unsuccessful.

Hillman was becoming desperate for money and needed to kill again. His next target was Emily Bishop, whose house he had bought. One night while out at Todd Grimshaw's 18th birthday party, Hillman sneaked out of the pub and disguised himself as Aiden Chritchly, a local yob who had been joyriding with Sarah and had seriously injured in a car crash a couple of months earlier. He quietly broke into a neighbour's house (who Emily was babysitting for) and brutally attacked Emily with a crow bar. The owner, Maxine Peacock came home at that point, saw him with the crowbar standing over Emily and confronted him. Hillman muttered in a sinister voice, "You should have stayed at the party Maxine," and beat her to death. Hillman staged a robbery and framed Aiden who was jailed. Emily survived the attack.

Hillman received a phone call that a lady who entrusted her savings with him had died and that the money had gone to him. Hillman was distraught with guilt, realising that he didn't need to murder anyone at all. A month later, Gail confronted Hillman, who confessed to the murders. Gail was sickened and described her husband as "Norman Bates with a briefcase". Hillman ran, but returned two weeks later and planned to kill his entire family. He was in the house when David returned home, and kept him silent when a neighbour called through the window, then picked up Sarah's daughter Bethany when Sarah returned home later, saying that Bethany would be alright as long as Sarah did exactly what he told her. Gail returned home in the evening, and had her hands tied by Richard. The kids were safe, but were bound and gagged in the family's car. Originally, Richard was going to gas the family in the garage, until Audrey, who had come around to help Gail make tea, disturbed his plans. With the help of the neighbours, they broke down the garage door. Hillman drove off, with "You and Me Song" by The Wannadies playing on the CD player, which he said was a favourite of Sarah-Lou's from a previous summer holiday. Martin and various other Street men were pursuit in another car. Gail smuggled a pair of scissors from the house and subtly handed them to Sarah Lou before she got into the car. She cut David's bonds, then cut her own, so they could free their mother and try to regain control of the car. Hillman eventually drove them into the canal, screaming "This is it! I LOVE YOU!" The family survived their terrible ordeal but Hillman drowned and was displayed to them in a body bag.

On 3 February 2006 as Sarah celebrated her 19th birthday she received a birthday card signed "I still think of you as my daughter...Love Richard". The Platts excused this as a sick joke, but a week later Gail received a Valentine card from Richard. Gail received a third card on 10 March 2006, the third anniversary of his death. On Mothers Day, Audrey received a card. On her birthday, she received a card from him stating that he would 'see her soon'. In April, Les Battersby announced that he gave a ride to Richard Hillman in his cab, though this was seen as Les getting in on the gossip. It was later revealed that David was the one who was sending the cards, because he said he received no attention from her, and he wanted to split Gail and Phil up.

Since late 2005 rumours have been circulating that Richard will return to the street, back from the dead.ITV has officially denied these rumours and given the nature of his death such a return would be almost impossible.

Family

* Alma Baldwin - cousin (deceased)
* Patricia Hillman - ex-wife (deceased)
* Gail Platt - widow
* Sarah-Louise Platt - stepdaughter
* David Platt - stepson
* Nick Tilsley - stepson
* Bethany Platt - stepgranddaughter