During the investigation he was publicly arrested,had his home and office searched in January 2015,participated in a gruelling six-hour interview,and was charged in April 2015 with the historical sexual assault of two children,of which he was later acquitted.
He sued the State of NSW in the Supreme Court seeking damages for malicious prosecution,misfeasance in public office,collateral abuse of process and false imprisonment.
On Thursday,Justice Ian Harrison entered judgment for Spedding and awarded him $1,484,292 plus interest for his “long and painful ordeal” which “never should have occurred”.
Harrison said he was satisfied the charges were instituted and maintained to further the William Tyrrell investigation and punish Spedding for his suspected involvement. He said the “harsh and cynical” strategy was “never viable,nor was it proper”.
“The allegations for which he was prosecuted were old and discredited. They were frail and notoriously so,” Harrison said. “Mr Spedding’s experience left him distressed,confused,wrongly imprisoned and separated from his family.”
Harrison found Spedding was entitled to damages for all causes of action except false imprisonment. He awarded aggravated and exemplary damages,citing the “insidious level of vitriol” directed at Spedding after he was charged,including a “patently rabid” neighbour who confronted him.