Conman’s victims speak out

A conman who charmed his way into the homes of elderly women is still on the run and his victims are desperate for him to be caught.

William Harding, 77, has avoided authorities since August, when he failed to appear at Whanganui District Court on two charges of obtaining by deception and one of causing loss by deception. He denied the charges. The daughter of one of his alleged Whanganui victims, who has name suppression, said hearing about the aging Lothario’s latest con was not a surprise.

‘‘It was what we were expecting because we believed he was going to move on to the next victim. That’s why we made the complaint at the beginning.

‘‘Obviously we are feeling very devastated because he’s pretty much done the same to them as what he has done to us. ‘‘It’s really hard.’’ As Stuff revealed, a 73-year-old woman in Paraparaumu took Harding in for six weeks after he said his house in Wellington was flooded by a broken hot water cylinder.

He ate her food, wore her son’s clothes and she said she paid out thousands of dollars while he was there.

At the end of January, she told him she was starting to doubt him, as the lies started to fall apart. Next morning, he vanished while she was out taking a walk.

His alleged Whanganui victim’s daughter said she believed people took pity on Harding, because of his age.

‘‘He is an old man, but he’s been a criminal all his life. He’s just got old.

‘‘He’s been doing this to hundreds of people all his life.’’

Her mum and Harding were engaged in 2016 and Harding claimed he wanted to buy a house in Whanganui for them.

But that dream was shattered when Harding vanished the morning the deposit was due.

‘‘Mum thought he had an accident. Then I went into his bedroom and realised little things were left and big things were gone.

‘‘So we went to the police station.’’

The more they looked, the more lies they uncovered.

‘‘The moving people said they had never ever heard from him. There was no moving truck booked.

‘‘We had been led to believe he had money left from his brother who died, well there was no

"He is an old man, but he's been a criminal all his life. He's just got old." The daughter of one of William Harding's victims.

brother and no inheritance.’’

But the problems had only just begun.

The vendors of the house Harding was supposedly buying sued the woman for failing to pay the deposit and she ended up having to shell out $8000.

‘‘We just want to see him put into prison,’’ the daughter said.

She urged anyone who knew his whereabouts to contact the police.

‘‘If he is living with them, don’t let Will know they suspect him and get the police to their house and get him arrested.

‘‘He’s slipping through all the cracks.’’

It wasn’t just his victims who could help nab him, but neighbours and friends as well.

‘‘Just invite him in for a coffee and get the police there because it’s the only way he’s going to get caught really,’’ the daughter said.

She urged people to not fall into his trap.

‘‘He’s very, very convincing he can be very very charming.

‘‘He’s done it all his life and he’s very believable and well rehearsed.’’

Sergeant Nick Brunger previously said he was concerned Harding may target other vulnerable women.

‘‘My main concern is he will take advantage of another vulnerable elderly lady and again obtain funds or money from that particular person or take advantage in another manner.’’

Anyone with information on Harding’s whereabouts can contact Brunger on 06 349 0614 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.