| Police corruption whistleblower Simon Illingworth has | | | | had been turned into a living hell by becoming a |
| described the lowest point he reached in his personal | | | | whistleblower, including being bashed while on duty, |
| life when working as a "rat" or informer with the | | | | threatened and victimised. |
| Victoria Police's internal affairs department, or the | | | | In the biography, published by ABC books, he reveals |
| "filth". | | | | that at one point a criminal who was out to get him |
| Out publicising his new biography, appropriately | | | | was known to be possession of guns, a silencer and |
| named Filthy Rat, Illingworth says the low point came | | | | night vision goggles "and knew where I lived". |
| when he knew was a hunted man, sleeping with a | | | | He says he decided to go public at the time because |
| revolver beside his bed and surrounded by elaborate | | | | "I had nothing left to lose". "My life became a living |
| security. | | | | nightmare." |
| "You live a life so isolated, so downtrodden that you | | | | Having worked in Victoria Police's internal |
| feel worthless," Illingworth has told ABC radio. | | | | investigations department, he is a strong advocate of |
| "And you drink a lot. You almost take on the role of | | | | an independent anti-corruption commission being |
| rat because you feel so worthless." | | | | established in Victoria - the only state without one. |
| Illingworth, 38, made headlines two years ago when | | | | "You'll never stop corruption. You'll never stop |
| he went public on the ABC's Australian Story to talk | | | | organised crime. |
| about corruption inside Victoria Police and how his life | | | | |