Townsville football coach Jamie Hall, 26, charged with rape, grooming

A Queensland football coach and referee has made a bid for freedom after being charged with the rape and grooming of a teenage girl.

Townsville football coach and referee Jamie William Anthony Hall, 26.

A Queensland football coach who has been charged with raping and grooming a teenage player has applied for bail.

Townsville football coach and referee Jamie William Anthony Hall, 26, was arrested and charged on Tuesday after police allege he abused a teenage girl who played in the league.

Police will allege the Hyde Park man used his position of authority to groom a 13-year-old girl before raping and abusing her over a period of months.

Mr Hall, who also worked at Rebel Sport at the time of the offending, was charged with rape, indecent treatment of a child, grooming, and unlawful stalking.

On Wednesday morning he appeared by video link in Townsville Magistrates Court where his defence lawyer Tom Hancock instructed by Resolute Legal made an application for bail.

Mr Hancock said his client had no criminal history and suggested applying bail conditions that included prohibiting him from using a mobile with internet and attending sports events.

He also suggested there be a condition that the man go nowhere near the girl’s workplace.

The defence lawyer said Mr Hall did not contact the girl after being confronted by her sister about the alleged offending which gave “insight” into how he would be while on bail.

The application was opposed by the police prosecutor who said Mr Hall held a job where he was surrounded by children, and alleged he had used a mobile to track the girl’s whereabouts as well as tried to “coerce” her into meeting up with him.

She said it brought a risk that he would interfere with possible witnesses.

Magistrate Richard Lehmann adjourned the bail application and said he would deliver his decision on Thursday, March 6.