Richard Lee Hall jailed for vile crimes as wife says she’ll wait for him

A child sexual offender has left his latest victim contemplating self harm, a court has heard, but his partner says his life will still be waiting for him upon release.

An opportunistic child sexual predator who has previously spent time in custody for sexually abusing a three-year-old child has been sentenced for the vile crimes he committed against a family friend’s child.

Richard Lee Hall, 45, vile crimes led his latest victim to self-harming and with thoughts of taking her own life, a court has heard.

Despite his crimes, the court has heard Hall’s wife has indicated she would wait for him once released from prison.

Hall was labelled as an opportunistic offender, who had served two years imprisonment for abusing the three-year-old in 1996.

Hall, who was 18 at the time of his first offence, had placed his hand on the girl’s vagina, exposed his penis and made contact with the her face after asking her to open her mouth, a court has heard.

The court also heard he rubbed his penis between the complainant’s thighs and ejaculated.

The Adelaide District Court heard between 2018 and 2019, over the course of six months, Hall sexually abused another child who was under 10 years old.

After learning Hall’s vile crimes, his wife left to Norfolk Island finding his immediate incarceration following the trial as “overwhelming and traumatic”.

Despite Hall’s history of child sexual offending Judge Joanne Tracey said his wife indicated he would “have a home and a life with her waiting” once released from prison.

Richard Lee Hall, 45, who previously abused a 3yo, has left his latest victim, contemplating suicide and self harming. Despite his crimes his wife has indicated she will wait for him. Picture: Suplied

“She says you have good opportunities for employment and a positive future. She intends to remain in regular contact with you,” Judge Tracey said.

Following a jury trial in the District Court, Hall was found guilty of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.

The South-East man from Mundulla, just outside Bordertown, was confronted by the victim’s mother and grandmother.

The victim’s grandmother told the court she had watched the girl change from a trusting and compassionate child to an angry young girl who has needed psychological counselling who “does not feel she has a safe place in life anymore”.

Judge Tracey said the mother had described the family as a very tight-knit household.

“Since your offending was disclosed, life for the family looks very different now,” Judge Tracey said.

“She feels she failed to protect her daughter, and she has struggled to shield her own struggles with what you did from her daughter.”

Judge Tracey said Hall’s history of child sexual offending, though dated, made her “guarded” for his prospects of rehabilitation.

“The offending occurred over a six-month period and involved digital penetration on two occasions, and touching of the vagina on two occasions. You were a family friend, and there has been a breach of trust,” she said.

Hall was handed an eight-year term of imprisonment with a non-parole period of four years and eight months.

The sentence was backdated to March 29, 2023.