Missing jail boss in beach twist

A witness believes he has seen missing prison boss David Prideaux in Broome. Source: Herald Sun

THE focus of the mystery of missing Victorian prison boss David Prideaux has moved to the West Australian holiday mecca of Broome.

The Herald Sun can reveal a witness believes he saw Mr Prideaux at a bank in the famous resort town last month, more than 3000km from the freezing Victorian bush where he vanished 18 months ago.

The witness says he saw the man he believes to be Mr Prideaux in a queue at one of Broome's four banks. The witness is said to have known Mr Prideaux previously.

It has been revealed that at the time he vanished, Mr Prideaux had been having an affair.

His mistress was reportedly living in Broome, sparking theories that he might have faked his own death to start a new life.

The report has revived the mystery of Mr Prideaux's disappearance without trace on a High Country hunting trip 18 months ago. Police who investigated his disappearance have been assigned to re-examine it after the abrupt adjournment last week of an inquest into his death.

This week is not the first time Mr Prideaux's disappearance has been the focus of speculation.

He disappeared just over a year after gangland figure Carl Williams was killed in the maximum-security prison the father of two ran.

The theory that he may have met with foul play has not been given credence by police, but his apparent resurfacing in Broome has provided a new twist.

The story of Mr Prideaux's reappearance, which has all the ingredients for a made-for-TV mini-series, has people talking on the main street of Broome.

Contractor Ted Mullaley, 64, said he was intrigued when shown a picture of Mr Prideaux yesterday.

"I haven't seen him but it looks bad if he was in charge of that jail when Carl Williams was killed," he said.

"I don't think he would act suspicious, but if he's been into the bank then he's not as smart as he should be."

Mr Prideaux, 50, has not accessed his own bank account since he disappeared.

But he may have taken on a different identity and could have accounts under a new name.

The witness did not see Mr Prideaux taking out money, as he left when he was approached.

Staff at the Broome branches of Westpac, Bankwest, Commonwealth and ANZ could not identify Mr Prideaux from a photograph this week.

Tropical Broome in Western Australia. Local Ted Mullaley (inset) is canvassed over the possible sighting of David Prideaux. Pictures: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

Tropical Broome in Western Australia. Local Ted Mullaley (inset) is canvassed over the possible sighting of David Prideaux. Pictures: Alex Coppel

Security staff who collect cash from teller machines also said they had not seen Mr Prideaux.

Nurses in the emergency department at the Broome Hospital showed the picture of Mr Prideaux around their staff room yesterday, but said he did not look familiar.

Mr Prideaux was hunting deer with his brother-in-law, Robbie Dale, when he disappeared in June last year.

The snowy peaks of Victoria's High Country bear little resemblance to his supposed new residence.

The sun bakes those brave, or silly, enough to spend too much time in the 41C wet season heat.

Camels wander down the streets, stopping traffic as they cross the roads towards their homes.

Locals at Roey's Pub, which has been serving beers since 1890, were enthralled by Mr Prideaux's tale.

An Englishman at the bar said it reminded him of British couple Anne and John Darwin.

Mr Darwin faked his own death in a sea-canoeing accident in 2002 to claim a $900,000 insurance payout.

He started a new life in Panama but was eventually caught and jailed for six years after he was spotted smiling in a real estate agent's brochure in the Central American country.

Darwin, like Mr Prideaux, was also a prison officer.

The Herald Sun is not suggesting Mr Prideaux has done anything illegal - the coincidence of the pair's profession simply had tongues wagging.

Mr Prideaux's relatives have said they believe he is dead because he was close to his family and has not contacted anyone since that fateful shooting trip.

Leanne Hughes, 29, of Broome, said it was easy to get lost in the Kimberleys.

"Lots of people come to the Kimberleys to hide," she said.

A summary inquest into the suspected death of Mr Prideaux was to have started this week.

A summary of the circumstances would have been presented to the court with statements, but no witnesses were to be called.

But the Herald Sun understands police contacted the State Coroner's office to notify it of the alleged spotting of Mr Prideaux.

The Coroner cannot investigate further if there is a suggestion the subject of an inquiry is alive. The matter is referred back to police.

stephen.drill@news.com.au

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