NSW police ordered to pay William Tyrrell suspect almost $1.5m

Former washing machine repairman Bill Spedding, one of the first suspects in the William Tyrrell case, has successfully sued NSW Police for malicious prosecution.

Supreme Court Judge Justice Ian Harrison awarded Bill Spedding (pictured) $1,484,292 in damages and costs, plus interest. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Former washing machine repairman William Spedding has been awarded $1.48m in damages after suing the state of NSW for mal­icious prosecution over the investigation into William Tyrrell’s disappearance.

Mr Spedding was charged by NSW police with historical child sex offences following William’s disappearance in 2014 from his foster grandmother’s home on the NSW mid-north coast as a tactic to “extract a maximum amount of pressure” on him.

In the days prior to William’s disappearance, Mr Spedding had visited the foster grandmother’s home to repair her washing ­machine.

William Tyrrell disappeared in 2014 from his foster grandmother’s home on the NSW mid-north coast. Picture: NSW Police

The 71-year-old’s home and office were searched over the alleged historical sexual assault of two girls in January 2015, and he was charged in April that year. He was later acquitted of the charges following a trial in 2018.

When his home was searched, he was revealed as a person of interest but was later cleared by police for any involvement in William’s disappearance.

During his trial in the NSW Supreme Court, it was argued that police were aware the alle­gations had already been investigated and were baseless, and that he had already been cleared.

On Thursday morning, judge Ian Harrison awarded Mr Spedding $1,484,292 in damages plus costs and interest.

In a statement, Mr Spedding said the criminal charges “destroyed” him and “publicly portrayed me as a pedophile”.

“My reputation was severely and permanently damaged,” he said. “My family life was torn apart. Our grandkids were taken from us, and their lives have also changed forever.”

He described the prosecution as a “terrible nightmare” and said that no amount of money would restore his life to what he enjoyed prior to the ordeal. “I brought this case to show police decisions to prosecute must not be taken lightly and, more importantly, must not be taken to achieve some ulterior purpose.

“I was prosecuted for crimes I did not commit, in the hope my prosecution would further the police investigation of me as a suspect in the disappearance of William Tyrrell. This type of conduct … must be deterred and I hope Justice Harrison’s decision helps to achieve this purpose.”