HUBERT HALLMAN FROM ST ALBANS SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN ROMSEY AND SWITZERLAND

In a case that has spanned decades and involved multiple countries, Hubert Hallman, an 82-year-old former educator from St Albans, has been sentenced to prison for serious child sex offences committed during the 1960s and later in his career. The offences date back to his time as a French teacher at the prestigious Stroud School in Romsey, Hampshire, where he was accused of abusing a young pupil.

Hallman admitted to four counts of indecent assault against the boy, which took place during his tenure at the school. The court heard that the victim, who came forward in 2017 after a series of high-profile child abuse revelations, described the trauma inflicted by Hallman. The court was told that the victim was once a cheerful and happy child but was profoundly affected by the abuse, leading to a troubled teenage life.

Southampton Crown Court was informed that Hallman, who resided on Highfield Lane in St Albans, was considered a strict and intimidating figure at the school, with pupils reportedly terrified of him. Prosecutor Mary Aspinall-Miles detailed the disturbing nature of the offences, revealing that Hallman performed sexual acts on the boy inside a caravan he kept on school grounds. The abuse was not limited to one location; the court also heard that Hallman inappropriately touched the boy on multiple occasions, including at a swimming pool and inside a tent.

The court further learned that Hallman’s history of misconduct extended beyond the UK. It was revealed that he had previously been convicted of similar offences in Switzerland when he was a trainee Catholic priest. Additionally, in the early 1970s, Hallman served time in prison for 16 offences committed while working at a school in Greenwich. These past convictions underscored a troubling pattern of predatory behavior spanning several decades and countries.

Hallman’s actions have left a lasting impact on his victims, and his sentencing reflects the seriousness of his crimes. The court’s decision aims to serve justice for the victims and to acknowledge the long history of misconduct associated with the defendant.