Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin

SEX LIES & METER MAIDS

Explosive claims as Will the Wrecker and business associate head to court

- SEX, LIES & METER MAIDS PAUL WESTON paul.weston@news.com.au

YOUNG women performed regular sexual acts for Will “the Wrecker” Smith (above) to help manage the 81-year-old’s mood swings, according to sensationa­l claims tendered to court.

Former Surfers Paradise Meter Maids general manager Michael Yarwood has made the explosive sex claims in an affidavit in the Supreme Court. He alleges he is owed $1.9 million in lost earnings when acting as a business adviser to the Gold Coast millionair­e and junkyard recluse.

In a counter claim, Mr Smith has accused Mr Yarwood of swindling almost $4 million after being granted power of attorney, using the money for luxury cars and travel and a “sugar baby” mistress.

YOUNG women performed regular sexual acts for Will the Wrecker to help manage the 81-year-old’s mood swings, according to sensationa­l claims tendered to court.

Former Surfers Paradise Meter Maids general manager Michael Yarwood has made the explosive sex claims in a 54-page affidavit in the Supreme Court. He alleges he is owed $1.9 million in lost earnings when acting as a business adviser to the Gold Coast millionair­e and junkyard recluse.

In June, Mr Yarwood lodged a claim and Mr Smith has responded with a notice to defend and then a counter claim in a case which will be heard next week.

Mr Yarwood alleges he hired women to balance Will Smith’s mood swings after he “groped” a meter maid at a Gold Coast Wreckers Christmas luncheon at Burleigh last year and “fondled her by attempting to place his fingers inside her bikini bottoms”.

The meter maid said she could find someone who could tolerate Mr Smith’s behaviour and 20-year-old Sarah Jane Bailey later signed what Mr Yarwood called “a sexual services contract”, the affidavit alleges.

In response, Mr Smith has accused Mr Yarwood of swindling almost $4 million after being granted power of attorney, using the money for luxury cars and travel and a “sugar baby” mistress.

Ms Bailey said she had her contract terminated after Mr Yarwood’s wife discovered text messages between the pair. (See story opposite).

Mr Smith employed Mr Yarwood in late 2013 to help with the sale of his Reedy Creek wrecking yard. The State Government wanted to buy it to create a corridor for heavy rail to Coolangatt­a.

“Smith has an overly active sexual appetite and demand for sexual gratificat­ion,” Mr Yarwood claims in his affidavit.

He claims that he soon understood that “if a pretty female was in Smith’s presence, Smith was easier to manage in regards to his violent and sudden mood swings”.

Previous women said they “regularly fondled and touched Mr Smith and on occasions performed sexual acts”, the affidavit alleges.

Mr Yarwood said his actions in hiring women for Mr Smith were socially unacceptab­le and against his upbringing.

“At the time, however, I saw these actions as a means to an end. Today, in hindsight and on introspect­ive reflection I find my actions to be repugnant and am ashamed I acted in this direction.”

Mr Yarwood alleges Mr Smith lived with a businesswo­man at a Merrimac home mortgaged to Queensland Housing Commission where he paid $10 a week.

Mr Smith called him once to advise the woman – a “petite Asian lady” – was “throwing heavy items such as cooking pots at him” and that he visited to find the wrecker’s property tossed out on the street, it is alleged.

Mr Yarwood describes Mr Smith as an astute and extremely successful businessma­n who did not tolerate fools, could be ruthless in his dealings and negotiates hard.

Mr Yarwood said he met Mr Smith in the 1980s through his family’s connection­s with the running group Hash House Harriers and reconnecte­d in 2013 as his property was to be resumed for the heavy rail corridor.

The Department of Main Roads and Transport advised that it would only deal with Mr Yarwood if he was given power of attorney, the affidavit said.

Mr Yarwood alleges he proposed 22 per cent of gross revenue activities, but Mr Smith’s first offer of 6.5 per cent was reflected in the retailer agreement.

He estimated he could increase the property and business portfolio

to $20 million in the first three to four years and they later agreed to 15 per cent for a 200-hours-per-month job managing Mr Smith’s affairs.

Mr Yarwood has threatened separate defamation action against barrister and corporate investigat­or Christophe­r Garlick, who has been acting for Mr Smith.

He has alleged emails to him contained defamatory remarks, including that he had taken money from Mr Smith’s account when he held power of attorney and paid for his own traffic fines and credit card expenses. Mr Yarwood maintains these are the wrecker’s own fines and debts.

Mr Yarwood alleges Mr Garlick charged Mr Smith $400,000 over an eight-week period, but when contacted yesterday the Coast barrister said “it’s not true”.

Mr Smith has declined to comment because the matter was before the courts. He is shocked by the claims in the affidavit and his lawyers are considerin­g their next steps in relation to the “disgracefu­l comments”.

Mr Yarwood told the Bulletin: “I love Will. I consider him family.”

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 ??  ?? Will “the Wrecker” Smith is accused of owing business associate Michael Yarwood $1.9 million in lost earnings. He has launched a counter claim, alleging Mr Yarwood swindled almost $4 million.
Will “the Wrecker” Smith is accused of owing business associate Michael Yarwood $1.9 million in lost earnings. He has launched a counter claim, alleging Mr Yarwood swindled almost $4 million.
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