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| Canoe fraudsters John and Anne Darwin 'have no assets' | Canoe fraudsters John and Anne Darwin 'have no assets' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Canoe fraudster John Darwin and his ex-wife Anne have no known assets after the seizing of his £40,000 pension, the Crown Prosecution Service has said. | Canoe fraudster John Darwin and his ex-wife Anne have no known assets after the seizing of his £40,000 pension, the Crown Prosecution Service has said. |
| The couple, from Seaton Carew near Hartlepool, were jailed in 2008 for making false insurance claims after faking his death in the North Sea. | The couple, from Seaton Carew near Hartlepool, were jailed in 2008 for making false insurance claims after faking his death in the North Sea. |
| A total of £541,762.39 has been repaid by the couple, according to the CPS. | A total of £541,762.39 has been repaid by the couple, according to the CPS. |
| The couple's fraud was exposed when a photograph of them in Panama appeared on the internet. | The couple's fraud was exposed when a photograph of them in Panama appeared on the internet. |
| Story unravelled | Story unravelled |
| The CPS said Mrs Darwin, 63, had repaid more than £500,000, while the £40,000 her husband paid in July last year from his pension meant he no longer had any assets. | The CPS said Mrs Darwin, 63, had repaid more than £500,000, while the £40,000 her husband paid in July last year from his pension meant he no longer had any assets. |
| While Mr Darwin hid in the marital home, his wife pretended to be a grieving widow, fooling even their two sons. | |
| The couple then moved to Panama to start a new life. | The couple then moved to Panama to start a new life. |
| But their story unravelled when Mr Darwin returned to the UK, claiming to have amnesia, in December 2007. | But their story unravelled when Mr Darwin returned to the UK, claiming to have amnesia, in December 2007. |
| The couple, who have since split, have been subject to Proceeds of Crime hearings. | The couple, who have since split, have been subject to Proceeds of Crime hearings. |
| Following his conviction, the court found Mr Darwin, 64, had benefited by £679,194.62 but as he had pretended to be dead, all assets were in his wife's name. | Following his conviction, the court found Mr Darwin, 64, had benefited by £679,194.62 but as he had pretended to be dead, all assets were in his wife's name. |
| The court therefore made an order for £1 allowing the CPS to amend the order should any assets, such as the pension, become available. | The court therefore made an order for £1 allowing the CPS to amend the order should any assets, such as the pension, become available. |
| The CPS spokesman added: "The Darwins now have no known assets remaining for confiscation." | The CPS spokesman added: "The Darwins now have no known assets remaining for confiscation." |
| Nick Price, head of proceeds of crime at the CPS, said: "When John Darwin devised his plan to defraud insurance companies, he didn't think he'd get caught at all. | Nick Price, head of proceeds of crime at the CPS, said: "When John Darwin devised his plan to defraud insurance companies, he didn't think he'd get caught at all. |
| "But he also didn't bank on the dedication and determination of my team to recover the money he stole - even seven years later." | "But he also didn't bank on the dedication and determination of my team to recover the money he stole - even seven years later." |