This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/tees/7520803.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Canoe fraud couple sent to jail | Canoe fraud couple sent to jail |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin and his wife Anne have each been jailed for more than six years for fraudulently claiming £250,000. | Back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin and his wife Anne have each been jailed for more than six years for fraudulently claiming £250,000. |
| John Darwin, 57, was jailed for six years and three months after earlier admitting deception. | John Darwin, 57, was jailed for six years and three months after earlier admitting deception. |
| Anne Darwin, 56, was given a six and a half year jail term for fraud and money laundering at Teesside Crown Court. | Anne Darwin, 56, was given a six and a half year jail term for fraud and money laundering at Teesside Crown Court. |
| The couple's sons, Mark and Anthony, were described by the judge as the "real victims" of their deception. | The couple's sons, Mark and Anthony, were described by the judge as the "real victims" of their deception. |
| The couple conned their sons, friends, police and insurance companies into believing Mr Darwin drowned in the North Sea off Teesside in 2002. | |
| He reappeared at a London police station in December last year claiming he had lost his memory. | He reappeared at a London police station in December last year claiming he had lost his memory. |
| They were undone by a photograph of the grinning couple taken in Panama four years after he disappeared. | They were undone by a photograph of the grinning couple taken in Panama four years after he disappeared. |
| The sons were "the real victims", the judge said | The sons were "the real victims", the judge said |
| Mr Justice Wilkie said their sons, who gave evidence for the prosecution against their mother, had been left "crushed" by the deception. | Mr Justice Wilkie said their sons, who gave evidence for the prosecution against their mother, had been left "crushed" by the deception. |
| He 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." | He 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." |
| A compensation hearing to determine how the couple can pay back the £250,000 they defrauded will take place at a later date. | A compensation hearing to determine how the couple can pay back the £250,000 they defrauded will take place at a later date. |
| 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. | 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. |
| During sentencing John Darwin looked down and his wife looked straight ahead and showed no emotion. | 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. | 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, near Hartlepool, then abandoned his boat and went into hiding. | |
| Detective Inspector Andy Greenwood gives his reaction outside court | Detective 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. |
| For 51 years of his life, he was in all aspects, a law-abiding, decent man Peter Makepeace for John Darwin | For 51 years of his life, he was in all aspects, a law-abiding, decent man Peter Makepeace for John Darwin |
| 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." |
| In mitigation for Mr Darwin, Peter Makepeace said his client had been a "good father" until his disappearance. | In mitigation for Mr Darwin, Peter Makepeace said his client had been a "good father" until his disappearance. |
| He said: "It would seem that he was a man who was devoted to his family, hard-working and, on the face of it, an entirely decent man. | He said: "It would seem that he was a man who was devoted to his family, hard-working and, on the face of it, an entirely decent man. |
| "For 51 years of his life, he was in all aspects, a law-abiding, decent man." | "For 51 years of his life, he was in all aspects, a law-abiding, decent man." |
| Mrs Darwin's barrister David Waters QC said she returned voluntarily to the UK when her husband was arrested, which saved the British authorities "a considerable amount of expense and delay". | Mrs Darwin's barrister David Waters QC said she returned voluntarily to the UK when her husband was arrested, which saved the British authorities "a considerable amount of expense and delay". |
| 'Calculated fraud' | 'Calculated fraud' |
| 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." |
| Det Insp Andy Greenwood added that the couple's sons were devastated. | Det Insp Andy Greenwood added that the couple's sons were devastated. |
| "If they get over it, it will take some time and some assistance. | "If they get over it, it will take some time and some assistance. |
| "I just hope they can go away from the court building today and move on with their life. | "I just hope they can go away from the court building today and move on with their life. |
| "They have dealt with it, under the circumstances, extremely well." | "They have dealt with it, under the circumstances, extremely well." |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| John Darwin used a hidden door to sneak into the adjoining house | John Darwin used a hidden door to sneak into the adjoining house |