William Tyrrell disappearance: Spedding wants $1m from police

A man linked to William Tyrrell’s disappearance will seek compensation from police.

William Spedding with his wife outside the downing centre courts. Picture: John Grainger

A washing machine repairman whose name became linked to William Tyrrell’s disappearance will seek a minimum $1 million in compensation from NSW police.

William Harrie Spedding, 65, will file a suit for misfeasance in public office, including collateral abuse of process, and malicious prosecution, according to details provided to The Australian. Mr Spedding says his family life and business were destroyed when he was named as a “person of interest” in William’s disappearance.

Mr Spedding once mended whitegoods on the NSW mid-north coast, travelling around in a van marked “Speddo’s”.

The Australian understands three of Mr Spedding’s grandchildren independently told police a Spider-Man figurine found in his glovebox during a police search had come from a local op-shop.

The youngest grandchild gave it to him to “keep him company” in his van while he worked. Its discovery made national news. William was wearing a Spider-Man suit when he went missing.

The Australian understands Mr Spedding came to police ­attention after a person once connected through his first wife contacted Crimestoppers, claiming he was a pedophile. There is no evidence for this claim.

The anonymous tipster pointed police to allegations of child sex made against Mr Spedding when he was divorcing his first wife, in the 1980s. Police investigated and no charges were laid.

Police already knew from phone records that William’s foster mother had called Mr Spedding’s answering machine on the morning of William’s disappearance to ask about a broken washing machine. He told them he didn’t go to the house that day.

Police reinvestigated allegations made against him in the 1980s, and had him charged with historical child sex offences. All were dismissed or dropped, with costs awarded in his favour, uncommon in criminal proceedings.

His legal team says the charges were laid not because police believed Mr Spedding was guilty of the historical offences but to put pressure on him, and his 30-year marriage to his wife, Margaret.

Mrs Spedding always said her husband was by her side on the morning of William’s disappearance. There is ample evidence to support her claim.

The investigation into William’s disappearance has been bedevilled by police missteps, including confirmation bias; false witness statements; excessive government secrecy; and bureaucratic interference, as detailed in The Australian’s podcast series, Nowhere Child. Episode seven, The Usual Suspects, is out today.

Defence lawyer Peter O’Brien was this month forced to gather the evidence that clearly ruled Mr Spedding out, despite it being available to police for years.

“I’m not suggesting for a moment police shouldn’t have looked at my client,” he said. “But it would, or should, have been fairly evident fairly quickly there wasn’t anything in it.”