A pensioner due to appear in a highly-promoted Australian Story episode has spoken out after ABC spiked the feature at the eleventh hour after discovering he had been convicted of 'serious historic offences'.
Ian Williams, 73, attempted to sue National Australia Bank subsidiary UBank in October 2025 for an extraordinary $379million.
His case, which related to claims of poor handling of two unauthorised transactions from his account totalling $1,338.55, was dismissed.
But his story still pulled wide interest among Australians, prompting the ABC to speak to him on the Background Briefing podcast in July and publish several news stories.
An Australian Story episode, with an estimated production cost of $250,000, was due to air on Monday about his 'David and Goliath' case - but ABC pulled it on the day.
The broadcaster published a brief statement admitting 'new information' from that afternoon, unrelated to his case against NAB, revealed Williams was 'convicted of serious historical offences, which he failed to disclose to the ABC'.
Two days later, Williams spoke about the 'gut-wrenching' U-turn and admitted to not revealing his past, although he stopped short of discussing his crimes.
'I did the wrong thing a very long time ago and I paid for it and I've worked as hard as I can since that time to sort my life out,' he told The Australian on Wednesday.
Pensioner Ian Williams (pictured) unsuccessfully tried to sue UBank for almost $400million over its handling of two unauthorised transactions from his account totalling $1,338.55
An Australian Story episode about his battle was due to air on Monday but was spiked after producers were told Williams had been 'convicted of serious historical offences'
'It was gut-wrenching to get that call. It was really disappointing because I knew it was a good show … but I was mainly disappointed in myself.
'I should have told them (about it) and let them make an editorial judgment about my past but I didn't.
'The judgment call I made in not saying anything and not telling them about it was wrong.
'I should've done that and made the ABC aware and that's on me. It caught them completely unaware.'
As reported in Daily Mail's Inside Mail, fingers were pointed towards producer Amos Roberts, whose credentials include being a former producer on Four Corners.
'I feel really bad for Amos, he's a lovely bloke, and all of the ABC have been fantastic, just good people. I feel really bad that I've let them all down,' Williams said.
'I just wish I had done things differently and I'm sorry.'
Williams refused to provide details about the criminal convictions from four decades ago, but confirmed they were not in relation to fraud or financial crimes.
While he apologised for not telling the ABC, Williams refused to discuss the detail of his convictions which were brought to light by an ABC statement and were shared by host Leigh Sales on social media
All Williams confirmed was that the convictions, which are unrelated to the case against NAB, were from 40 years ago and were unrelated to financial crimes or fraud
'I can't go into details on it. I just can't do it. There are reasons for it. I'd love to be able to speak freely, but I can't,' Williams said.
'It had nothing to do with finances, though … (and) it happened 40 years ago.
'All I just wanted to do [during media interviews] was get legislative change to protect scammed victims. That was my only motive. I wasn't out there looking for bloody fame and glory, I've got to tell you. I was certainly not looking for notoriety.
'All I wanted to do was try and do some good because I've spent the last 40 years trying to be a positive influence in the world and make amends for past wrongs but it hasn't worked out that way.'
Williams added that, before both the podcast and Australian Story, he had thought that 'if the s*** hits the fan [about his convictions], I’ll deal with it then'.
Just hours before the program would be broadcast, Roberts reportedly received a call from a viewer regarding the offences.
The episode, its synopsis and promotional material were scrubbed and, after a spokesperson initially said 'there was an editorial issue', a statement was published.
'The ABC received new information about Mr Ian Williams on Monday afternoon prior to Australian Story airing that was unrelated to his case against National Australia Bank,' it read.
ABC stories, promotional material for the Australian Story episode and the Background Briefing podcast segment on Williams have been scrubbed
'We have since confirmed Mr Williams was convicted of serious historical offences, which he failed to disclose to the ABC.'
The statement, shared by host Leigh Sales on social media, confirmed the episode had been spiked.
In the now-deleted promotional video from the ABC for his Australian Story episode, Williams is shown speeding along Melbourne roads on a motorbike.
Clad in a black leather jacket, he tells the camera: 'I'm just a stubborn bugger.'
The Background Briefing story and multiple ABC News stories have also been removed.
During his case, Williams alleged he was blamed by UBank and NAB for authorising two Google Pay transactions on October 29, 2022.
He then allegedly found CCTV footage showing two individuals using his account at Coles Bundoora, while he was in Bendigo, 180km away.
'I didn't do it. I wasn't there... But the bank said, "No". They still come back, "Nup, you're guilty",' he told the program, according to promotional material.
The promotion depicted Williams as a hero, with one interviewee saying: 'To go in and bat against a big corporation is incredible.'
The bank, which denied any liability, offered to refund the two transactions: once in December 2022 and once in May 2023.
But Williams refused and pursued the matter in court, where Associate Justice Goulden summarily dismissed the case, stating it had 'no real prospect of success'.
Ahead of the now-binned Australian Story episode, NAB apologised for Williams' distress during the process.
'What happened to Mr Williams was really upsetting – scams can happen to anyone and have a serious financial and emotional impact,' NAB executive Craig Swinburne said in a statement to the Daily Mail.
'We know we could have done better in how we communicated and supported Mr Williams.
'We're continuing to strengthen education, protections and support across UBank and NAB.'
