James Wallace Crime Podcast ‘The Artful Dodger’ Launched

A new six-part podcast investigation into crimes by well-known arts philanthropist James Wallace launches today, chronicling the long legal battle to bring him to justice.

Written, hosted and produced by Kate Langdon and Philippa Tolley, the Stuff Group investigation The Artful Dodger features Wallace’s only media interview since his convictions.

Stuff Group Editor-in-Chief Keith Lynch says the gripping series chronicles the years Wallace’s victims fought for justice, after being sexually assaulted at his stately Auckland home, Rannoch House, in the early 2000s, 2008 and 2016.

Although the first victim came forward in 2017, Wallace was not convicted until 2021 and name suppression was only lifted two years later. He was stripped of his knighthood in 2023.

“This lengthy battle to name Wallace raised major questions about the justice system, its treatment of abuse victims and name suppression laws,” says Lynch. “It also forced the arts sector to examine whether it had turned a blind eye to Wallace’s offending, in return for millions of dollars worth of patronage.”

The series features new in-depth interviews, including with Wallace and the senior officer overseeing the police investigation. It charts the philanthropist’s rise and fall, crimes and punishment, and the story of his survivors. Journalists Langdon and Tolley spent about a year investigating the case, which also saw two accomplices of Wallace convicted of attempting to dissuade a victim from giving evidence.

Wallace was sentenced to two years and four months in prison, and was released on parole in December 2023 after serving part of his sentence.

All six episodes of The Artful Dodger are released on podcast platforms today, and are also available on stuff.co.nz.

Artful Dodger is written, hosted and produced by Kate Langdon and Philippa Tolley. Sound design, audio editing and mixing by Connor Scott.

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