Synopsis
He was born Hamish Watson, a surfie dude from Sydney but he could morph into whatever you needed him to be. Hamish is due to be sentenced to jail in early 2019 for swindling a handful of victims out of more than $7m. But these crimes are just the final pages in a resume too thick to staple; for decades hes duped victims in the US, Canada, Britain, Hong Kong and Australia. How did he do it? How did he evade authorities around the world for so long and whats he done with all those tens of millions of dollars he stole?
Episodes
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From The Front: Hedley Thomas’ new cold case podcast, 'Bronwyn'
24/05/2024 Duration: 20minWhere is Bronwyn Winfield? The devoted mum has been missing since 1993 – and the man behind The Teacher’s Pet is on the case. Go to theaustralian.com.au/bronwyn to listen. Plus, you can read more about this case and see exclusive stories, maps, timelines, graphics, video and more. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Josh Burton. The multimedia editor is Lia Tsamoglou and original music is composed by Jasper Leak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Introducing Breaking Badness
12/12/2023 Duration: 28minFrom our colleagues at The Telegraph, a new podcast from inside prison walls, with former homicide detective Gary Jubelin, host of I Catch Killers. This is Episode 1 of Breaking Badness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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It's back: The Teacher's Pet returns for Australian listeners
30/06/2023 Duration: 35sThe Australian's global smash-hit podcast Teacher's Pet returns for Australian audiences on July 1. You can find it wherever you got this podcast. Just search for "The Teacher's Pet". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Introducing: My Sister's Secrets
06/02/2022 Duration: 38minMy Sister's Secrets is the gripping story of one woman's quest to get justice for her sister - and along the way, to uncover the hidden places in her family, and all our families. In this first episode, you meet Alexandra Tapp who died at just 32, haunted by the predators in her own family. Now her sister is on a quest for justice. My Sister's Secrets is The Australian's newest podcast. Presented by Virginia Tapscott and Steve Jackson. Search for My Sister's Secrets in your favourite podcast app to listen to Episode 2 now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Introducing: What Really Happened in Wuhan
19/12/2021 Duration: 41minInvestigative journalist Sharri Markson goes deep into the secret history of Covid-19. In a series of exclusive interviews - from Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo to intelligence chiefs and Chinese dissidents - Markson takes us inside the investigation behind her bestselling book and documentary, to explore what really happened in Wuhan and beyond. In this first episode, Sharri Markson has a frank and freewheeling conversation with the former US president in his first Australian sit-down interview on China’s “gross incompetence” and the mysteries still unsolved. “There were body bags outside of the lab. And people were saying there are a lot of people lying down on the streets of Wuhan and there were body bags … you're going to have to figure that out and you probably will be able to do it, knowing you.” Go to theaustralian.com.au/wuhan for more on What Really Happened In Wuhan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Introducing: The Breakdown
28/03/2021 Duration: 39minAustralian rugby once had $40 million in the bank. Crowds over 100,000. TV audiences of 3 million. Today the Wallabies have sunk to their lowest world ranking ever. Off the field rugby is a "war zone" with a $20 million deficit last year alone. The Breakdown is a gripping podcast investigation from The Australian, exploring just how far "the game they play in heaven" has fallen - and why. Jessica Halloran and Claire Harvey have interviewed everyone from ex-PMs and billionaires to Wallabies legends, boardroom insiders and the volunteers battling to keep the game alive. Raw and emotional, The Breakdown is the new binge-listen everyone will be talking about. You can listen to The Breakdown through The Australian app, or search for The Breakdown wherever you listen to podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Introducing: The Lighthouse
16/11/2019 Duration: 03minTheo Hayez is missing in Byron Bay, a beautiful beachside town on Australia’s most easterly mainland point, frequently in the spotlight for its famous residents. Theo’s from Brussels. He’s 18 and on a backpacking holiday when he vanishes in May 2019. Behind the scenes local volunteers who’ve never met Theo begin searching and investigating with his family, parallel to a major police investigation. As the search narrows to the area around the 118-year-old Cape Byron Lighthouse, a range of theories emerge.At the request of Theo’s family, The Australian newspaper’s national crime correspondent David Murray joins the unofficial search party to investigate the mysterious disappearance for a new podcast series.To hear more, search for The Lighthouse in your podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Introducing: Nowhere Child
02/08/2019 Duration: 01minWilliam Tyrrell was a three year old boy who disappeared from the village of Kendall, on the mid-north-coast of New South Wales. Key facts were kept from the public, from day one. A lot of what was reported, especially early on, was false. In the new podcast, Nowhere Child, The Australian’s Caroline Overington delves into a case where notions of class and privilege; opportunity and poverty came crashing together, to create a nightmare for William Tyrrell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Reckoning
21/06/2019 Duration: 36minFor years Hamish McLaren had evaded the law. But not any more. The brutal truth, like a runaway out-of-control limited edition Mercedes McLaren, is bearing down on him. There's no escape. Judgement Day for Hamish McLaren, has finally arrived. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Bonus Episode - Jane
05/04/2019 Duration: 01h33minAs a bonus for all listeners, we are publishing the full interview with Jane, recorded in her house north of Sydney. She speaks at length about her experiences of Hamish, the impact it had on her life, and how she hopes to begin moving on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Definition of Evil
29/03/2019 Duration: 01h06minIt may appear that Hamish got away with his schemes for decades. But he didn't. He kept getting caught out, time and again. It's self evident that many systems failed to apprehend this serial offender. How could this be so? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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On the Couch with Hamish
22/03/2019 Duration: 40minHe killed off his parents, by air and by sea. He ran over his twin brother Phil, and killed him too. What are we to make of these fanciful stories Hamish made up about his life? We've called in experts. And, we've gathered bevy of ex-girlfriends to give us their take on their time with Hamish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Kevin from Queensland Goes to Canada
15/03/2019 Duration: 50minSkiing was Hamish Watson's great love. Before he was a puffed-up futures trader in Sydney, he was a pumped-up muscle-bound ski instructor, in Australia and Canada. The ski fields of Canada were his home away from home, a place where he could show off the millions he'd stolen. He flew in on private jets, he bought properties, he handed out Rolex watches and he regaled the locals with tales of life as a billionaire who was mates with Tom and Nicole. But it wasn't all play and no work for Hamish in Canada. He stole millions, roping in a high end car dealership, and drawing the attention of a spy and a former Australian Prime Minister. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Who the Hell is Phil?
08/03/2019 Duration: 42minHamish arrived on the floor of the Sydney Futures Exchange in the late 90s - he talked big, but they all knew he traded small. They called him a One Lot Wonder. And they all wondered where he got his cash. There were cars and boats and trips in private jets and a girlfriend called The Pleasure Machine. But it was all other people's money. One of his victims reported $20m dollars worth of fraud to police, but Hamish slithered away to strike again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Intern
01/03/2019 Duration: 41minJane was destined for big things. She was the great hope of her local school. She was in love with Jack, her teenage sweetheart. Life was sweet. Then along came Hamish, promising an internship and a placement at Princeton. Two families would be devastated by the results. Music credits:Meydn - L'Etoile danse Pt.2,Smallertide - One March Dayelectric-tric - Sketch 3, Sketch 14Komiku - Action Time Attack ResearchChris Zabriskie- Last Night I Dreamt I Saw True Love In Your Eyes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Gatsby of the Great Lakes
22/02/2019 Duration: 36minHamish arrived in sleepy Blueys Beach with a beautiful woman on his arm, and on the run from his past. Rumours of dark deeds wafted through in his wake. Then he met Bec Rosen. He'd shower her with love.They'd be married on the balcony of a beach shack. He'd become a father figure to her boys. And then he'd cruelly betray them all. Music credits:Meydn - L'Etoile danse Pt.2, RainRafael_Archangel - Melancholy TuneUuriter - Years And Years See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Fashion Crimes
15/02/2019 Duration: 35minHamish McLaren was always attracted to the high-life. It was inevitable he'd gravitate to fashion. And so, nestled among the retirees and energy healers Hamish stole from was another name: Lisa Ho. But had Hamish met his match in this high profile Sydney designer? Music credits:Meydn - L'Etoile danse Pt.2, Blind, RainChris Zabriskie - Cylinder FiveSmallertide - One March Day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Day Max Died
08/02/2019 Duration: 19minTracy fell in love with Max Tavita, a man who won her over with tales of a life in the investment world and how he was working in the World Trade Center in New York when the first plane hit in 2001. Then Hamish crashed into their lives. Music credits for this episode:Meydan - L'Etoile danse pt 2Lee Rosevere - DecompressionDerjuli - Driving in a carUuriter - Years and years, future peaceStephen Ludwig - 214S See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.