MARK COLVIN: This story from the child abuse Royal Commission contains details you may find disturbing.

A former altar boy has testified that he's still being harassed in the New South Wales city of Newcastle years after he levelled accusations against an Anglican priest.

The man has told the public hearing that the priest molested him in the 1970s, and in the years since he reported the abuse to police, he says locals have tampered with his car, trespassed on his property, and made death threats.

The priest was never convicted, but now, he could be facing fresh charges.

Thomas Oriti reports.

THOMAS ORITI: He says he was abused back in the 1970s, but decades on, the trauma continues.

CKA: I try to act strong and tough, like nothing bothers me. But I feel anything but strong. I've lost count of how many times I've been threatened by people in the Diocese. I've had nails put in my tyres, my car windows broken, and have received numerous death threats directed towards myself, my children, and my grandchildren.

THOMAS ORITI: It all began when this man - who we can't name - was in primary school. He considered being an altar boy an honour, and wanted to make his mother proud.

CKA: In 1971, when I turned 10 years old, I followed by older brother and started my training. I had to attend training classes after school for six weeks before I could serve on the altar.

THOMAS ORITI: It was during that time that he developed a close bond with his priest.

We have to call the priest CKC.

CKA: Not long after I became an altar boy, CKC began grooming me. I was 10 years old at the time, and CKC was about 30. For the five years I served as an altar boy, from 1971 to 1975, CKC sexually abused me. The abuse took place at least fortnightly and escalated over time.

THOMAS ORITI: Today, the witness revealed how he was molested in the church, the rectory where the priest lived, and in the man's car, and he said that fellow priests in the Newcastle Diocese dismissed any complaints.

He believes his mother made one of those complaints to the Bishop at the time, Ian Shevell, before she died in 1977.

CKA: I was 16 years old, and remember the coffin was incredibly heavy. I was so upset about CKC being at the funeral, that I was terrified about dropping Mum's coffin. I've just got to get through this one.

Believing that mum had reported to Bishop Shevell before she died, it upset me greatly that the church degraded our family by allowing CKC to officiate at her funeral, knowing what CKC had done to me.

THOMAS ORITI: Later, he found out that the same man had abused his brother too.

CKA: I live with regret that I didn't speak out about CKC's abuse earlier and I that I was unable, unable to protect my younger brother.

THOMAS ORITI: It wasn't until the year 2000 that the priest was charged and went to trial, but the prosecution questioned whether there was a reasonable prospect of conviction, and, in what today's witness called a "gun to the head" scenario, he agreed to withdraw the case.

In response, he says the church released a statement, incorrectly saying that the priest had been "acquitted".

He later received compensation, but says he was given a "healing candle" in place of an apology.

CKA: It's the impact of the church's response that is ongoing. I cannot get over the sheer frustration of dealing with bishops and clergy, who I believe knew full well what CKC was doing and yet did nothing.

THOMAS ORITI: The witness says he's been harassed in the years since his allegations were made public. He even named a man with a close connection to the church, who he found trespassing in his backyard.

And he said his car was tampered with, putting the lives of both himself and his son in danger.

CKA: We pulled over on the Wallsend Link Road, and we got out and had a look. And all 10 rear wheel nuts on the car had been loosened. We tightened them all up. Had the wheels come off, it would've killed us I imagine.

THOMAS ORITI: It now appears that this man's journey could be far from over.

The royal commission has been told that the priest in this case might be facing fresh charges and lawyers expressed concern that naming him could prejudice a possible future trial.

But others have been named, including deceased priest, Father Peter Rushton, who some believe was protected by senior members of the clergy.

Today, a former Archdeacon called them the "gang of three", and at least one will be called to give evidence.

But a former Assistant Bishop of the Newcastle Diocese, Richard Appleby, denies ever being told.

RICHARD APPLEBY: I now deeply regret the appalling behaviour that is now being revealed. The thing I think I probably regret more than anything else is that I was not told back in those years of this abusive behaviour.

Had I been told, I would've been in a position to do something about it, and I would've acted decisively.

THOMAS ORITI: Other survivors will also be called to appear in the coming days.

MARK COLVIN: Thomas Oriti.