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Police release new canoeist photo | Police release new canoeist photo |
(40 minutes later) | |
Police have released a photograph which they believe may show canoeist John Darwin during the five years that he was missing, presumed dead. | Police have released a photograph which they believe may show canoeist John Darwin during the five years that he was missing, presumed dead. |
Mr Darwin, accused of making an untrue statement to get a passport and obtaining £25,000 in life insurance by deception, has appeared in court. | |
Det Supt Tony Hutchinson of Cleveland Police said the photo showed Mr Darwin with a "large bushy beard". | |
Mr Darwin's wife Anne, 55, was arrested on suspicion of fraud on Sunday. | Mr Darwin's wife Anne, 55, was arrested on suspicion of fraud on Sunday. |
They have believed for the last five years their father's dead Det Supt Tony Hutchinson on Anthony and Mark Darwin | |
'Dreadfully sorry' | |
During a press conference, Mr Hutchinson added that Mr Darwin may have used the name John Jones, and urged any members of the public who remembered him to come forward. | |
He said there was nothing to suggest that Mr and Mrs Darwin's sons, Anthony and Mark, were anything other than "victims". | |
"If that is the case, they have been duped in what can only be described as a really disgraceful fashion," he added. | |
"They have believed for the last five years their father was dead. | |
"So I feel dreadfully, dreadfully sorry for them." | |
Mrs Darwin has been questioned by officers at Hartlepool police station after returning from Panama. | |
Mr Hutchinson said that on the journey to Cleveland she "was pale, drawn and very quiet - which is understandable". | |
Earlier, Mr Darwin was remanded in custody at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court. | |
He spoke only to reply "correct" when asked to confirm his name. | |
Mr Darwin will make another appearance in court via a videolink on Friday. He was arrested at his son's house in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on Tuesday. | Mr Darwin will make another appearance in court via a videolink on Friday. He was arrested at his son's house in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on Tuesday. |
The canoeist was declared dead by the Hartlepool coroner in 2003. | The canoeist was declared dead by the Hartlepool coroner in 2003. |
Mr Darwin appeared in the dock accompanied by a single security guard during the brief magistrates' court hearing. | Mr Darwin appeared in the dock accompanied by a single security guard during the brief magistrates' court hearing. |
The first charge he faces is that on 16 May 2003 he fraudulently obtained £25,000 from Unat Direct Insurance Management Limited by deception, by falsely representing that he had been killed in an accident on or about 21 March 2002. | The first charge he faces is that on 16 May 2003 he fraudulently obtained £25,000 from Unat Direct Insurance Management Limited by deception, by falsely representing that he had been killed in an accident on or about 21 March 2002. |
The second charge he faces relates to making statements known to be untrue to obtain a passport. | The second charge he faces relates to making statements known to be untrue to obtain a passport. |
Anne Darwin is being interviewed by police after returning to the UK | Anne Darwin is being interviewed by police after returning to the UK |
Mr Darwin did not enter a plea and there was no application for bail made. | Mr Darwin did not enter a plea and there was no application for bail made. |
Turned up | |
The chairman of the bench, Alan Langshaw, said the case was so serious it could only be dealt with by a crown court. | The chairman of the bench, Alan Langshaw, said the case was so serious it could only be dealt with by a crown court. |
Mrs Darwin, who was arrested at Manchester Airport, recently moved to Panama after selling the couple's Teesside home. | Mrs Darwin, who was arrested at Manchester Airport, recently moved to Panama after selling the couple's Teesside home. |
She was taken to Hartlepool police station after her return to the UK, where she was questioned by detectives. | She was taken to Hartlepool police station after her return to the UK, where she was questioned by detectives. |
It had been thought that Mr Darwin, a former prison officer, had died at sea after the remains of his canoe were found on a beach in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, Teesside, in March 2002. | It had been thought that Mr Darwin, a former prison officer, had died at sea after the remains of his canoe were found on a beach in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, Teesside, in March 2002. |
But he turned up at a north London police station on 1 December, claiming he could not remember what had happened to him. | But he turned up at a north London police station on 1 December, claiming he could not remember what had happened to him. |