Monster's hidden millions

WILLIAM Goad's retail empire was once thought to be worth millions but he has died without paying a penny in compensation to any of his victims.

One man was even awarded a six-figure pay-out two years ago but lawyers are still trying to track down his fortune. Goad was a director of Cornish Market World, and once owned shops throughout the South West, including two branches of Barbican Discounts in Plymouth.

He also owned two properties in the city. It had been thought he may be worth as much as £25million. But a report into Goad's finances a few years ago found that he was worth at most £3million, but probably a lot less.

Aware that the police were on his tail and having fled to Thailand, it is thought he may have squirrelled away his money.

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Goad has died without admitting his guilt, let alone uncovering his wealth. Another of Goad's victims gave up his fight for compensation in 2009 fearing there was not enough money to chase.

Lawyers concluded then that he "no identifiable assets", with the likelihood of recovering any damages from Goad "practically nil".

But Ray Zolla, aged 49, formerly from Plymouth but now living in Newquay, continued the fight and was awarded a six-figure sum in 2010. Ray Zolla was a young teenager in the late 1970s when he was abused by Goad – charges Goad denied and they were left to lie on file. He said Goad had hidden his assets and blocked his solicitor's attempts to get the money.

Mr Zolla added: "He's hidden a lot of his assets over the years, off-loaded a lot of money and transferred shares."

His solicitor said he had made himself bankrupt but she added the fight to recover the cash continued.

Mr Zolla said he had remarried and now enjoyed a normal family life.