ABC host Ashley Hall is attacked in jail
A former ABC presenter has been assaulted and subjected to homophobic slurs in prison after being accused of supplying a plethora of drugs, a court has heard.
Ashley Norman Hall, 52, reportedly used rooms in hotels on Wentworth St and Bond St in Sydney’s CBD to deliver large quantities of cocaine, meth, MDMA and GHB to buyers.
He was arrested on December 7 during a police raid that reportedly discovered $600,000 worth of drugs in two hotel rooms.
Officers reportedly seized 500 MDMA tablets, 100 g of cocaine, 3.2 kg of 1,4-butanediol, 700 g of methamphetamine, more than 1 kg of cannabis and more than $70,000 in cash.
He was slapped with 23 charges related to supplying drugs and handling the proceeds of a crime.
Former radio host Ashley Hall has been charged with a litany of drug deliveries
Pictured: Mr. Hall is arrested after police reportedly found $600,000 worth of drugs in two hotel rooms
The charges include eight allegations that the former ABC radio host supplied a commercial quantity or more of a particular drug.
On Monday, Mr Hall appeared in Sydney Downing Center Local court via audiovisual link to make a desperate bail attempt after serving three months in remand.
He wore his prison green and worried expression as he entered the courtroom from prison.
His lawyer Sharon Ramsden told the court that Mr Hall had a ‘significant need for medical treatment’ which was not addressed in custody.
The court heard that he had been suffering from a hernia since 2016 but was unable to secure surgery until recently.
Ms Ramsden said the ex-ABC journalist had proceedings booked on March 11 but was ‘very unlikely’ to go ahead if he was not granted bail.
The court heard that he also had a heart condition that required regular medication and sleep apnea.
“He was physically assaulted as a result of that condition,” Ms Ramsden said.
The Burwood resident was attacked with a thong by another inmate because of his snoring, the court was told.
Mr. Hall (pictured) was previously an executive producer of AM, ABC Radio’s flagship program
Mr Hall, 52, was charged with 23 charges in connection with supplying drugs and handling the proceeds of a crime
Magistrate Greg Grogin said Mr Hall’s affidavit filed with the court claimed he had been subjected to persistent homophobic ‘defamation’ over his sexuality.
In addition, the court heard that he had also witnessed ‘a horrific abuse in prison’.
Mr Grogin noted that the prominent radio presenter had been behind bars for some time for a previous conviction ‘for the exact same offence’.
“He was very aware of what any subsequent drug activity would entail,” the magistrate said.
Hall was convicted in 2021 of two counts of supplying a banned drug and four counts of drug possession, charges to which he pleaded guilty.
The Crown Prosecutor opposed bail, citing video and audio recordings of some of the alleged deliveries as well as Mr Hall’s alleged ‘criminal sophistication’.
Mr. Grogin agreed that there was an unacceptable risk that the former ABC loyalist would endanger the community, interfere with witnesses or commit another offense.
Mr Hall is pictured outside Downing Center Court in Sydney. He was a radio host for the ABC
“The crimes he is accused of are extremely serious because they carry a life sentence,” he said.
“The community must be protected from people willing to sell drugs for profit.”
He denied bail but ordered Mr Hall to get the medical care he needs while in custody.
Before his alleged foray into drugs, the 52-year-old was a prominent figure on ABC Radio.
During his tenure, he appeared as a presenter on the broadcaster’s current affairs, AM, PM and The World Today programmes.
Mr. Hall also previously served as an executive producer of AM, ABC radio’s flagship program.
The journalist no longer works for the national broadcaster.