Olivia Newton-John’s ex tells private eye: ‘leave me alone’

Pat McDermott, the one-time American lover of actress Olivia Newton-John, who was presumed dead after he vanished on a fishing trip in 2005, has emerged from hiding in Mexico. As investigators had always suspected, it appears he staged his death to escape financial troubles, despite the heartbreak his disappearance caused the Grease actress.

According to a report in the News of the World, McDermott has been hiding in the Mexican fishing village of Sayulita, staying in a $20-a-night hotel. He used a middleman to send a fax to a Texas private eye, Philip Klein, admitting he was still alive and begging him to call off the hunt for him.

The message, sent in February this year, read: "You may assume that Pat is alive and very well. Pat asked that I portray to you his innocence in the crimes you have accused him of. Pat has committed no crime. He simply has gone to a new life without the hassles of California or the spotlight to which he lived for years. Pat has no ill will to anyone. Pat simply wishes to be left alone."

Since the fax was received, three further phone calls are reported to have been made to Klein by 'representatives' of McDermott.

Newton-John (pictured) was already a successful pop singer in Australia, where she was brought up, when she co-starred with John Travolta in Grease in 1978. It was the most popular film of the year in the US, and spawned three hit singles - You're The One That I Want, Summer Nights and Hopelessly Devoted to You.

She had survived breast cancer treatment when she met McDermott and they were together for nine years before his disappearing act. Last year, the US Coast Guard officially concluded that McDermott had probably drowned at sea and Newton-John married John Easterling, millionaire founder of the Amazon Herb Company. ·