After fleeing Griffith last year owing more than $600,000 to local growers and businesses, the citrus conman has been living as a virtual untouchable in his home town of Gisborne, New Zealand.

But not any longer.

New Zealand man Mike Tobin, who says he was stung by Richards for $125,000 in mid-2006, has continued his fight to bring the fast-talking entrepreneur to justice.

Mr Tobin has not only forced Richards into bankruptcy, as revealed in The Area News last month, but has also had him sacked from three jobs in the past month.

And he is now following the money trail, and the trail of deceit, in a bid to extract all the money he can from the failed citrus marketer.

“I can assure you whatever money I get over and above what he owes me will go to people in Griffith,” Mr Tobin said.

And in a blunt warning to Richards, Mr Tobin has promised to “pursue him until his dying days”.

“That is a guarantee,” Mr Tobin said.

“I don’t play dead. I never have and I never will.

“It is heartbreaking what he’s done to me and those people over there, it really is.

“I really feel sorry for everyone affected and I can easily put myself in their shoes.”

The matter is currently being investigated by New Zealand’s Serious Fraud Squad.

Mr Tobin believes Richards transferred all his assets – including the family home – into his wife’s name when his Griffith business, MJT Marketing, went belly-up.

Mr Tobin is asking local creditors

to contact him on mvtservices@

clear.net.nz so he can track how much Richards actually owes.

Tharbogang citrus grower Barry Turnell, who is owed a substantial sum by Richards, said he was heartened by Mr Tobin’s tenacity.

“It’s good to see someone is finally holding him to account and it would be nice if he could get a dose of his own medicine,” Mr Turnell said.