Conman Hamish McLaren finds God behind bars
Hamish McLaren claims his new confines are a constant reminder of his crimes.
Conman Hamish McLaren has turned to the bible in his new life behind bars as a convicted criminal, saying his new confines are a constant reminder of his crimes and the people he deceived.
The silver-tongued fraudster was on Thursday sentenced to 16 years in prison, and will not be eligible for parole until 2029.
Subscribers only: bonus Who the Hell is Hamish? episodes
McLaren, born Hamish Watson, was eventually arrested by Manly detectives in 2017 and last year pleaded guilty to 18 fraud charges for stealing $7.6 million from 15 victims between 2011 and 2017.
As revealed in The Australian’s chart-topping podcast Who the Hell is Hamish? — the newest episode of which is released today — the conman’s fraud spree dates back to the 90s and continued until he was eventually arrested in mid-2017.
A letter and other official documents provided to the court tell of how McLaren, 49, has attempted to reconcile his crimes and adjust to his confines.
But judge Colin Charteris told the Darlinghurst District Court yesterday that he did not believe the “conman, impostor, fraudster” was genuinely regretful and criticised the single page letter McLaren handed to the court as his apology.
“When one thinks of the six years of deception of fraud he’s engaged in, he’s only been able to fill out one page,” judge Charteris said.
“As a man who’s able to charm people with the gift of the gab to separate them from their savings, there’s a paucity of explanation from him.
“He predictably says that he is regretful of what has occurred.
“He says that being in prison is a constant reminder to him of his failings.
“He says the label of conman and the like are deserved, there would be no one in the community who would argue against that proposition.”
More about McLaren’s new life behind bars will be revealed in The Weekend Australian tomorrow.
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