17/12/2007

Sons Of 'Missing' Canoeist Are 'Victims'

The sons of 'missing' canoeist John Darwin are "innocent victims" of an alleged scam, Cleveland Police have announced.

Police questioned Mark Darwin, 32, and his brother Anthony, 29, about their father's apparent disappearance in 2002 over the weekend and a spokesperson said: "Both sons of John and Anne Darwin, Mark and Anthony, were interviewed on Saturday as witnesses to the inquiry.

"The result of these lengthy interviews was that there was nothing to suggest they are anything other witnesses and, of course, victims in the case."

The men had earlier released a joint statement saying that they no longer wanted anything to do with their parents.

John Darwin, 57, was presumed dead after the remains of his canoe were found on a beach in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool in Teesside in March 2002. However, he 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 later arrested at his son's home in Basingstoke in Hampshire on suspicion of fraud.

Mr Darwin has been charged with making an untrue statement to get a passport and obtaining life insurance policy by deception.

His wife, Anne Darwin, 55, also appeared in court last week charged with dishonestly obtaining sums of £25,000 and £137,000 in 2003. The first charge relates to a life insurance payout, while the second relates to a policy to cover her mortgage in the event of her husband's death.

Both have been remanded in custody until January 11 next year.

(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.
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.
28 July 2008
Darwin Sons Reject Mum's Jail Appeal
The sons of jailed con-couple, John and Anne Darwin, have spoken of their anger over their parents' betrayal. Anthony and Mark Darwin attacked their mother for putting them "through hell" describing their bitterness on their father's faked death.
14 December 2007
No Festive Cheer For Remanded 'Missing' Canoeist Couple
There is not much festive cheer for the beleaguered back-from-the-dead canoeist, John Darwin, who will now spend Christmas behind bars. Magistrates have remanded the 57-year-old in custody after the former prison officer was charged with dishonestly obtaining £25,000 and making an untrue statement to procure a passport.