Last night, with his reputation in tatters, Harrison O’Connor (also known as Dene Mussillon, Dene Broadbelt and Harrison Eyles) began packing to exit the tranquil south-west Victorian town and hopefully find somewhere else to prove he can make an honest man of himself.

About a month ago the 21-year-old arrived with grand plans to open a real estate business, lease premises, hire staff and obtain goods and services across the region.

However, word got out about his past debts, which are well documented on numerous internet and social media sites.

By early this week he was the most talked-about person in town as news of the community’s unrest went national.

Prospective employees, landlords, business operators and tradespeople found his telephone and media links had abruptly been turned off.

Then a bizarre email was posted to a national radio news site on Tuesday night announcing he had taken his own life on Saturday, raising suspicions he had faked it.

However, he is definitely alive and well, albeit emotionally bruised and disillusioned.

When quizzed by The Standard yesterday about the suicide announcement, which was posted briefly on the radioinfo internet site, Mr O’Connor was categorical: “I can tell you 100 per cent it wasn’t me who sent it.”

The email had the sender’s name of Jason Blackford, who Mr O’Connor said he had not seen since December 2012.

“When I found out I tried to trace him, but was unsuccessful,” he said.

Radioinfo was also unsuccessful in tracing Mr Blackford.

Mr O’Connor blamed the Dene Broadbelt Support Group for victims, including its spokesman Noel Sadler, for continued attacks on his reputation and said he suspected the group may have written the suicide announcement.

“I am taking legal action,” he said. “Everywhere I go I am hounded.” 

He has vowed to leave Timboon early next week and pursue legal options to have internet postings on his past removed.

“I really want to be given the chance to start a fresh life,” he said.

“I will admit to racking up debts in the past, but I’m trying to move on.

“However, people are not letting it go.

“My reputation in Timboon has been screwed.

“I did not rip anyone off and have not committed any offences.

“Now I’ve got to leave town and find somewhere else, lay low for a while then hopefully resume my dream to start a business.”

Mr O’Connor said despite all the debts listed against him he had not once been hauled before court.

He officially wiped obligations to pay debts totalling about $250,000 by declaring bankruptcy in NSW last August.

“My family wants to help me financially to start again and I would have had the capacity to pay for the Timboon venture,” he declared.

“People are too quick to make judgment — it’s not just about what’s out there on Google.”

He admitted he did not have a Victorian real estate licence to operate the proposed Coast and Country agency, but claims to have completed a diploma in property services in NSW and was planning to apply for a full Victorian licence.

“It had been my dream for many years to run a real estate business, but now with all this blown up, I’m not sure if that’s possible,” he said.

Asked whether he felt a little like the character from Catch Me If You Can or former Australian fugitive Christopher Skase, Mr O’Connor said he and his family were tiring of constant tracking of his movements.

“I can’t even go up the street in Timboon anymore without feeling hounded,” he said.

“Unfortunately everyone is following me.”

Followers of the well-publicised movements of prospective real estate agent Harrison O’Connor have been puzzled by his numerous names.

The Standard yesterday asked him to explain. Here’s what he said:

Born: Sydney, raised Batemans Bay. 

Birth name: Dene Mussillon (mother’s surname); five years later changed to Dene Broadbelt (father’s surname); April 2014 officially changed to Harrison O’Connor (no family connection); now applying to change to Harrison Eyles (no family connection).