Former St Pius X Catholic schoolteacher Edward Hall to be sentenced for child abuse offences

A former Catholic schoolboy, who went on to become a detective, has detailed how an assault by his then-teacher was the catalyst for a life of grief.

A former Catholic schoolboy has spoken about decades of “grief and heartache” after he was molested by his teacher, and expelled from the school to conceal the crime.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, provided a victim impact statement in the Downing Centre’s District Court on Friday for the sentencing of paedophile Edward ‘Ted’ Smith Anthony Hall.

Hall, 71, was found guilty by a judge in April of two counts of indecently assaulting the 15-year-old in the 1970s.

The court previously heard Hall, then a teacher to St Pius X in Newcastle, took the student to remote bushland under the promise of a shooting trip but instead assaulted him by squeezing his genitals and nipples.

The man told the court Hall “colluded” to expel him from St Pius X after the assault, which further added to his torment and permanently strained his relationship with his parents.

Former St Pius X teacher Edward Smith Anthony Hall arrives at Newcastle District Court. Picture: NBN News

“I recall how he coerced me onto the ground semi-naked and began, in an organised and controlled way, touching me intimately,” he said through tears.

“The fact that no one knew where I was and having no other way home added to my anxiety.

“My fears were further exacerbated by the knowledge Hall was in possession of a .22 calibre rifle.”

The man told the court he only had the confidence to come forward about the assault after seeing newspaper coverage of Hall, who was in 2019 convicted of 21 other child sex offences.

The man went on to become a detective in adulthood, including work with child abuse victims, but later left the police force due to his mental health.

Hall will be sentenced in the Downing Centre’s District Court. Picture: Nikki Short

“It is only after serving 20 years with NSW Police, overseeing many paedophiles, that I came to realise the grooming process Hall and they had in common,” he said.

“It was the building up of trust as a teacher, football coach and mentor, (and) being in a position of authority.”

During sentencing submissions Crown prosecutor Kristy Mulley said Hall resigned from the school in 1986, one week after the first assault allegation against him was made.

Hall refuted that claim, and told Judge Ian Bourke he needed more time to gather teaching references in his favour.

He appeared in court via video link from Lithgow Correctional Centre, where he is serving a maximum of 20 years behind bars for the earlier convictions.

Hall will be sentenced on June 10.