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Canoe fraud couple sent to jail Canoe fraud couple sent to jail
(9 minutes later)
The wife of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin has been jailed for six years and six months for fraudulently claiming £250,000.The wife of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin has been jailed for six years and six months for fraudulently claiming £250,000.
Anne Darwin, 56, convinced insurance companies, a coroner and her sons her husband had died in a canoe accident.Anne Darwin, 56, convinced insurance companies, a coroner and her sons her husband had died in a canoe accident.
She was convicted of six fraud charges and nine of money laundering at Teesside Crown Court.She was convicted of six fraud charges and nine of money laundering at Teesside Crown Court.
Mr Darwin, who had earlier admitted deception, was jailed for six years and three months. Mr Darwin, 57, who had earlier admitted deception, was jailed for six years and three months.
The 57-year-old reappeared in December five years after faking his own death by vanishing in the sea near Hartlepool. The couple's sons, Mark and Anthony, who had given evidence against their mother, were described by the judge as the "real victims".
Anne Darwin had put forward the defence of "marital coercion", meaning her husband made her act against her will. Mr Justice Wilkie said: "Although the sums involved are not as high as some reported cases, the duration of the offending, its multi-faceted nature and in particular the grief inflicted over the years to those who, in truth, were the real victims, your own sons, whose lives you crushed, make this a case which merits a particularly severe sentence."
As the jurors returned to the court, she smiled at them - but looked straight ahead as the verdicts were given on each of the 15 counts. John Darwin reappeared in December, five years after faking his own death by vanishing in the sea near Hartlepool.
Her sons, who gave evidence against her, also showed no emotion as the guilty verdicts were given. Anne Darwin had put forward the defence of "marital coercion", meaning her husband made her act against her will, however the jury found her guilty.
The couple came up with the plot as they faced bankruptcy. During sentencing John Darwin looked down and his wife looked straight ahead and showed no emotion.
The Darwins came up with the plot as they faced bankruptcy.
In March 2002, prison officer John Darwin paddled out to sea near his home in Seaton Carew, then abandoned his boat and went into hiding.In March 2002, prison officer John Darwin paddled out to sea near his home in Seaton Carew, then abandoned his boat and went into hiding.
Detective Inspector Andy Greenwood gives his reaction outside courtDetective Inspector Andy Greenwood gives his reaction outside court
His wife raised the alarm after driving him in secret to Durham railway station and a huge air sea rescue operation was mounted, without success.His wife raised the alarm after driving him in secret to Durham railway station and a huge air sea rescue operation was mounted, without success.
He apparently spent several weeks in the Lake District, then returned home, where Anne Darwin kept him hidden inside the house for about four years.He apparently spent several weeks in the Lake District, then returned home, where Anne Darwin kept him hidden inside the house for about four years.
When visitors called, he used a secret door to sneak into an adjoining bedsit, also owned by the Darwins.When visitors called, he used a secret door to sneak into an adjoining bedsit, also owned by the Darwins.
Growing a full beard to act as a disguise, former school teacher John Darwin used the name of a dead child John Jones to apply for a new passport - and even a library card.Growing a full beard to act as a disguise, former school teacher John Darwin used the name of a dead child John Jones to apply for a new passport - and even a library card.
Once his death was made "official", Anne Darwin claimed her husband's £25,000 life insurance policy, his £25,000 teacher's pension, his £58,000 prison service pension, £4,000 in payouts from the Department of Work and Pensions, and a £137,000 Norwich Union mortgage insurance policy.Once his death was made "official", Anne Darwin claimed her husband's £25,000 life insurance policy, his £25,000 teacher's pension, his £58,000 prison service pension, £4,000 in payouts from the Department of Work and Pensions, and a £137,000 Norwich Union mortgage insurance policy.
The couple planned to start a new life together in Panama, but the plot unravelled when John Darwin walked into a London police station last December.The couple planned to start a new life together in Panama, but the plot unravelled when John Darwin walked into a London police station last December.
At first, his sons were pleased at his return and his wife, who was in Panama, professed her profound shock at his re-emergence.At first, his sons were pleased at his return and his wife, who was in Panama, professed her profound shock at his re-emergence.
But the couple's deceit became apparent to their family as a photo of them together in Panama in 2006 was published in the media.But the couple's deceit became apparent to their family as a photo of them together in Panama in 2006 was published in the media.
'Callous and calculated''Callous and calculated'
Police believe John Darwin's sudden return may have been sparked by a row.Police believe John Darwin's sudden return may have been sparked by a row.
Speaking outside Teesside Crown Court, Det Insp Andy Greenwood, of Cleveland Police, said: "We're pleased with the verdict received. Anne Darwin has been a compulsive liar.Speaking outside Teesside Crown Court, Det Insp Andy Greenwood, of Cleveland Police, said: "We're pleased with the verdict received. Anne Darwin has been a compulsive liar.
"Every time evidence was put to her she came up with an account - she reacted to the evidence and another account was brought out."Every time evidence was put to her she came up with an account - she reacted to the evidence and another account was brought out.
"This is just 'half time'. Asset recovery teams will make sure that all the couple's financial benefits realised from this plot will be brought back to this country.""This is just 'half time'. Asset recovery teams will make sure that all the couple's financial benefits realised from this plot will be brought back to this country."
Gale Gilchrist, from Cleveland Crown Prosecution Service, who acted as junior counsel during the trial, said: "When John Darwin turned up 'from the dead' before Christmas last year it was seen at first as an amusing story for the festive season.Gale Gilchrist, from Cleveland Crown Prosecution Service, who acted as junior counsel during the trial, said: "When John Darwin turned up 'from the dead' before Christmas last year it was seen at first as an amusing story for the festive season.
"But this was a callous and calculated fraud."But this was a callous and calculated fraud.
"The Darwins were willing to deceive family and friends and to waste considerable resources of the emergency services, all to maintain a lie that John Darwin had died and then exploit any compassion extended to them.""The Darwins were willing to deceive family and friends and to waste considerable resources of the emergency services, all to maintain a lie that John Darwin had died and then exploit any compassion extended to them."
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John Darwin used a hidden door to sneak into the adjoining houseJohn Darwin used a hidden door to sneak into the adjoining house