District Court of South Australia set to return seized treasures to paedophile Peter Liddy SA magistrate Peter Michael Liddy outside the Supreme Court in 2001. Picture: Martin Jacka Source: The Advertiser INFAMOUS paedophile and former magistrate Peter Liddy is set to regain the remains of his $1.3 million fortune - despite his victims receiving just $10,000 compensation. SA Police today asked the District Court to draft orders allowing it to release rare coins, firearms and maritime artefacts from its evidence lockers. Those items, once collected by Liddy, were seized by police during the investigation and prosecution of his horrid crimes against children. Because they were in police care, the items were exempt from compensation claims made by Liddy's victims. Now they are considered to be "lost and unclaimed" goods that, by law, should be returned to their original owner. Liddy, 63, abused junior lifesavers between 1983 and 1986 while serving as a magistrate and is serving a 25-year term in Mount Gambier Prison. Disgraced paedophile magistrate Peter Liddy had a vast collection of antique weapons, maritime artefacts and rare coins. A freezing order was placed on his $1.3 million estate - he was, however, allowed to access his money to pay legal costs. In 2002, The Advertiser reported the fortune had been reduced to $317,000. By 2007 it had dwindled to $30,000 and by 2010 it was valued at just $15,000. Meanwhile, a six-way war broke out in the District Court over ownership of Liddy's 2000-piece collection of mementos. Convicted fraudster Terry Stephens - who bought Liddy's mansion, Shenandoah, in 2002 - and the company liquidating Stephens' former business, staked claims. So did three men who claimed they bought Liddy's antique weapons, and the State and Federal Governments. At the time, Liddy sent a letter to the court saying he had no interest in joining the dispute. In 2009, Judge Julie McIntyre gave the guns to the men. Items including silver coins and a knife handle from Dutch shipwrecks in Australian waters were given to the Heritage Department. Judge McIntyre ordered other property remain in police custody until the victims' compensation claims against Liddy were resolved. In 2011, Liddy won a permanent stay of a second trial, on charges of sexually assaulting boys at Adelaide beaches between 1969 and 1983. The Advertiser subsequently revealed Liddy's victims were ineligible for the maximum $50,000 Criminal Injuries Compensation pay-out. Because they were abused in the 1980s, the men were entitled only to the $10,000 maximum applicable at that time. Commissioner for Victim's Rights Michael O'Connell intervened in the matter to help the victims gain as much compensation as possible. Today, Judge McIntyre was told all of the victims' claims had been settled. She heard three parties continued to dispute possession of the remainder of the fortune. SA Police wanted to release all items, the Federal Government wanted the maritime artefacts and Channel 7 wanted 25 of the items. Peter Campbell, for the network, said those items were uncovered not by police investigators, but by Channel 7 reporters. "We are seeking these items not for Channel 7, but for the victims themselves," he said. Our intention is to bring them back together in order to make them available to the victims as (further) compensation. Judge McIntyre said the court had received a letter from Liddy, saying he wanted the items back. Mr Campbell said that was unacceptable. "The timing is certainly convenient," he said. Having staved off prosecution and starved the victims out of compensation, he now says he wouldn't mind having the items back. Judge McIntyre said there was a "clear need" for a further hearing, and adjourned the case until next month.