Lauren Novak: We all know a Dirty John. And now we have more power

Dirty John’s story is familiar to even those unaware of the Netflix series or podcast, writes Lauren Novak. His controlling behaviour followed the abusive partner’s playbook, but there is now a way to safeguard ourselves.

Have you heard about this Dirty John bloke?

He crisscrossed the US conning women into relationships, trying to control their lives and steal their money.

John Meehan was a drug addict who stalked former partners, was charged with gun possession, fled police and eventually served time in jail.

Two days after his release, Meehan met divorced mother Debra Newell online in 2014.

She had no idea about his history, or that the relationship would end with Meehan setting fire to her car, attacking her daughter and dying in hospital from resulting injuries.

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The story may be familiar if you’ve watched the new Netflix series Dirty John, read Los Angeles Times’ reporting of the case or listened to the podcast.

But if you haven’t, the story may be still sadly familiar because Meehan’s controlling behaviour, escalating to physical violence, is the playbook followed by almost every abusive partner.

Eric Bana plays John Meehan and Connie Britton plays Debra Newell in the Netflix series, Dirty John. Picture: Michael Becker/Bravo

He swiftly isolated Debra from her friends and family, merged their finances, moved into her home and installed cameras to monitor her.

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While these are red flags, such coercion is often done in a way that creeps up on a victim, so too many remain unaware of the level of danger they face until things turn violent.

But in South Australia and New South Wales, this outcome could be avoided through a relatively new scheme which would allow the partner of someone like Meehan to ask police about their background.

In fact, the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme has already warned at least six South Australians that they are in imminent danger because of the criminal history of someone they are in a relationship with, or an ex-partner.

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In the case of so-called Dirty John, the man left a paper trail of concerning and criminal behaviour and multiple women reported him to various authorities across states. However, there was no way to bring all these warnings together.

John Meehan left a paper trail of concerning and criminal behaviour. Picture: Wondery/LA Times Podcasts

In SA and NSW, those with concerns can ask police to check the name of a spouse, de facto, boyfriend or girlfriend to unearth previous convictions, charges that were dropped or acquitted, any court protection orders and any breaches of those orders.

The search can include information from other jurisdictions and has already discovered Australian men who have, like Dirty John, spread a trail of despair across states.

Importantly, friends or family can apply if they’re worried about a loved one. In Debra’s case her daughters were repulsed by Meehan and feared for her safety but felt powerless to protect their mother.

Thanks to this scheme, in the two states that have adopted it, people can do more than stand by and worry. Other states should follow suit because it could save a life.

To apply visit police.sa.gov.au or www.police.nsw.gov.au

For support phone 1800RESPECT