11/12/2007

Canoeist's Wife Appears In Court

The wife of 'missing' canoeist John Darwin has appeared in court charged with two counts of deception.

Anne Darwin, 55, formerly of Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, Teesside, appeared before Hartlepool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, charged with dishonestly obtaining sums of £25,000 and £137,000 in 2003.

The first charge relates to a life insurance pay-out, while the second relates to a policy to cover her mortgage in the event of her husband's death.

She was remanded in custody to reappear in court on December 14.

Mr Darwin, 57 - who was presumed dead after the remains of his canoe were found on a beach in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool in Teesside in March 2002 - walked into a police station earlier this month and told officers that he could not remember where he had been and thought he was a 'missing person'.

He was arrested last Tuesday at his son's house in Basingstoke in Hampshire on suspicion of fraud.

Mr Darwin appeared before Hartlepool Magistrates' Court on Monday, charged with making an untrue statement to get a passport and obtaining life insurance policy money by deception. He was remanded in custody to reappear in court on December 14.

On Monday, police released a new photograph of Mr Darwin, which showed him with a large beard. The photo was taken from a bogus travel document that he allegedly used in the name of 'John Jones'.

Appealing for information about the Darwins, Detective Superintendent Tony Hutchinson said: "We need to know who they have been with and we need to know what they have been doing."

(KMcA)


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17 July 2008
'Back-From-The-Dead' Canoeist 'Cheated On Wife'
The wife of "back-from-the-dead" canoeist John Darwin has appeared in court today to give her own account in the money laundering and deception case. Anne Darwin told a jury that she forgave her husband after he cheated on her and that she considered leaving him but "didn't know how she would cope" without him.
16 July 2008
Canoe Man 'Cried And Begged' To Come Home
The wife of 'back-from-the-dead' canoeist John Darwin has told Teesside Crown Court that he had cried and begged her to let him come home after staging his own death. Anne Darwin, 56, faces six charges of deception and nine charges of money laundering linked to insurance payments, in connection with her husband's disappearance.
18 July 2008
Wife Of 'Back-From-The-Dead' Canoeist 'Breaks Down' At Trial
The wife of "back-from-the-dead" canoeist John Darwin has broke down in tears in court. Giving evidence, Anne Darwin said her husband "forced her" into telling their sons that he had died in a canoeing accident.
23 July 2008
'Lost' Canoiest Wife Jailed
The wife of "back-from-the-dead" canoeist has been sentenced to six years and six months for fraud. Anne Darwin, 56, has been convicted at Teeside Crown Court for her role in claiming £250,00 after helping her husband fake his death.
12 August 2008
Anne Darwin To Appeal Jail Sentence
The wife of the 'back-from-the-dead' canoeist John Darwin, has launched an appeal against her conviction and sentence, it has been revealed. Anne Darwin, 56, was found guilty of 15 charges of fraud and money laundering during a seven-day trial at Teeside Crown Court in July.