Local man John Plews, 61, is now described as “destitute” and almost homeless after donating a portion of his inheritance to the Liberal Party.

Ms Goward says she doesn’t know how much Mr Plews gave to her re-election campaign over two financial years.

He has previously told the Post it was $6000 but the Liberal Party only recorded $1000.

In addition, he donated a reported $4000 to Hume MP Angus Taylor’s campaign.

The funds came out of a $60,000 inheritance from his late father.

Asked whether she or the Liberal Party felt they should return this money, given Mr Plews’ circumstances, Ms Goward said:

“He needs to ask the Liberal Party. It is not a matter for me.

“I believe he knows this and I reiterate, he was found guilty of intimidating me, my daughter and other people. It is up to the Liberal Party to decide that matter... It is receptive to requests.”

Mr Plews last week pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking, intimidating or intending fear or harm, four counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend and one of contravening an AVO.

The charges related to text messages he sent to and about Ms Goward.

Police successfully applied for the AVO on her behalf.

Last Thursday in Goulburn Local Court, Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman placed Plews on good behaviour bonds of two and three years.

He was also ordered to seek physical and psychological medical help for a “mental condition.”

He is temporarily living in Canberra with his sister for several more weeks.

“He is destitute and now homeless and we are trying to find accommodation in Goulburn for him,” friend Bill Dobbie said.

Ms Goward said Mr Plews had never made a direct request for the money to be returned.

However Mr Dobbie said he and wife, Rose met with Ms Goward in June, 2013 and soon after, Mr Taylor, to make them aware of his situation.

Mr Taylor’s campaign manager, Michelle Costello also wrote to both MPs in November, 2013 alerting them to his circumstances, the ABC reported.

The Dobbies told the Post they loaned him $4000 to survive.

They were not pursuing repayment.

Another member of the Liberal Party put up money at a local cafe for Mr Plews’ meals.

“We were only one of a number of parties concerned,” Mrs Dobbie said.

“We tried to suggest repeatedly that it (the donations) be returned. There’s no problem with the initial donation but I think something could have been done in late 2013 when his circumstances became apparent.”

The Dobbies resigned from the party in April in protest over their friend’s “treatment.”

Mr Plews was expelled from the Goulburn branch last November over what the party described as “libellous accusations.”

He was arrested for breaching the AVO in February and jailed on April 8 for a second breach.

“He’s a hard guy to have sympathy for but God almighty, he’s been badly treated,” Mr Dobbie said.

Ms Goward would not comment on whether she had offered to return the money at any point.

But she said the episode, during which “erroneous and offensive” claims had been levelled against her, had been enormously stressful.

“It’s been terrible for me and my family,’ Ms Goward said.

“My husband has been very ill and none of this has helped.

“...He (Mr Plews) has been found guilty of intimidation and harassment of a terrible kind, not just of me but my daughter, who has nothing to do with public life.”

She said a reported $4550 loan to her daughter was untrue. Mr Plews started and subsequently abandoned a civil claim for this amount in Goulburn Local Court.

“I don’t wish him badly, just that all of this is over,” Ms Goward said.

Mr Taylor declined to comment.