An elderly Auckland man has revealed details of four years of abuse he suffered at the hands of two people who he thought were his friends and moved into his home.
Around six years ago Cornelius Wiley, 86, generously decided to help out the middle-aged son of a friend who needed somewhere to stay.
"I invited him because he had nowhere to go, I felt sorry for him," Mr Wiley told ONE News.
But that act of kindness was the starting point to years of abuse.
The man's girlfriend soon moved into Mr Wiley's Housing NZ property in Glen Innes as well.
"I thought she was staying a week and she stayed four years," Mr Wiley says.
The pair rapidly drained Mr Wiley's finances and his life.
"I paid for things ... they left me no money," he says.
On top of this Mr Wiley was ousted from his bedroom and forced to make multiple trips to the shops each day, often to get solitary items.
As well as this he also had to do all the cooking and cleaning.
"Every time I hear this story I feel very angry"
A social worker Breakfast spoke with agrees that Mr Wiley seemed like a virtual slave. (We've chosen not to identify this social worker because of her sensitive work).
"Every time I hear this story I feel very angry," she says.
"The psychological abuse is huge and it's very hard to measure."
It all came to a head one day when Mr Wiley was making yet another visit to the shops.
"I went up to do my groceries and I collapsed in the doorway of the shop. They put me in hospital," he said.
While Mr Wiley was in hospital too scared to go home, the couple committed the ultimate act of betrayal.
They told other people Mr Wiley had passed away and sold all of his belongings and trashed his home.
"When I saw him at the hospital two years ago he looked very weak," says the social worker.
"I was so worried. I just don't know what's in front of Cornelius."
Age Concern intervened and helped Mr Wiley who now lives in a rest home. His health is improving and he's back sporting a smile.
Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
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