A former ABC radio presenter has pleaded guilty to a string of serious drug offences, including dealing methamphetamine and cocaine, telling a court he had brought “disgrace” to the national broadcaster.
Ashley Norman Hall, former executive producer of the national broadcaster’s flagship radio program, AM, appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Friday facing a prison sentence.
Hall was arrested in December 2022 as part of a strike action by New South Wales police aimed at busting drug networks across Sydney.
The court had previously stated that he had been arrested after attempting to sell drugs to an undercover police officer.
Police seized Hall and later searched two hotel rooms on Wentworth St and Bond St in the heart of the city.
According to police, a stockpile of drugs was found during the raids, including gamma-butyrolactone, MDMA and cocaine.
Ashley Hall pleaded guilty to a string of serious drug offences and told the court he had brought ‘disgrace’ to the national broadcaster
The 54-year-old pleaded guilty to five charges of supplying a prohibited drug and one charge of knowingly dealing in $87,820 in proceeds of crime.
The charges against him relate to the supply of 8kg of butanediol, 816g of methamphetamine, 85.3g of GHB, 662g of ecstasy and 78.5g of cocaine, according to a statement of agreed facts submitted to the court.
It is the second time Hall has appeared in court on drug charges, after being arrested under similar circumstances in 2019.
He previously narrowly avoided a prison sentence after police found a stash of ice, MDMA, cocaine, cannabis, LSD and the party drug gamma-butyrolactone during a search of his 24th-floor room at the Meriton Suites on Pitt St.
On that occasion he pleaded guilty to two charges of supplying a prohibited drug and four charges of drug possession.
On that occasion he was sentenced to 12 months’ community service.
Ashley Hall faced the prospect of a prison sentence at Sydney’s Downing Centre court
Judge Penelope Hock, who will sentence Hall early next month, said it was a “tragedy” and that he had learned nothing from it.
Before leaving public broadcasting, Hall was executive producer for AM and worked as a reporter and presenter for ABC Local Radio’s PM and The World Today programs.
He has been in custody since his arrest, but has been denied bail.
On Friday, he told the court that after his release from prison he wants to write a book and make a podcast to “give a voice to people who otherwise don’t have a voice.”
“The last 21 months in custody have been torture, very difficult for me, but I have done my utmost to use that time to rehabilitate myself. I have done everything that was offered to help me do that,” Hall told the court on Friday.
Hall was arrested for alleged supply of illegal drugs after police seized $600,000 worth of drugs from two hotel rooms in Sydney’s CBD
He described drugs as a “plague” on the community.
Hall also said he had brought “shame and humiliation” on his friends, family and the ABC, which he said he had “proudly worked for for almost 20 years”.
He also claims that before his arrest, a drug dealer threatened him with a firearm and demanded $120,000.
Hall testified Friday at a hearing before Judge Hock, denying that he made up the drug dealer story.
He also said he was the victim of a home invasion in 2021, but he refused to give a statement because he did not trust the police.
Hall will be sentenced next Friday.