Friend: Canoeist returned after wife found new man

POLICE were last night awaiting the return of the wife of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin as they continued to question him over his disappearance five-and-a-half years ago.

It emerged yesterday that Anne Darwin may have found a new partner which prompted the return of her husband to Britain.

Detectives have until late today to continue to quiz the 57-year-old former teacher about where he has been since he vanished from the Hartlepool area in March 2002.

His wife Anne, 55, who claimed on her husband’s life insurance and who emigrated to Panama six weeks ago, will also be arrested if she returns to Britain.

It has been rumoured she was in Miami with a reporter from a tabloid newspaper, but she has said she plans to come back to face the music and apologise to sons Mark and Anthony who believed their father died in a canoeing accident in the North Sea.

Initially, she expressed shock at the news her husband had walked into a London police station on Saturday, more than four years after he was officially declared dead, but subsequently admitted a photo which apparently shows the smiling couple last year in Panama was genuine.

It is still unclear why Mr Darwin chose to return to Britain and present himself to police last Saturday.

But a friend of the couple, said Mr Darwin came back to Britain after his wife had found another man.

The friend said: “She got together with another man and John panicked because she had all the money and he was officially dead.

“Faced with that, he gave himself in, knowing that he would take her down with him.”

A police source said: “The big question is why did he walk back into a police station? One theory is that they might have gone through this together but recently split up or the relationship soured.

“We will be investigating whether there were any other love interests involved.”

Police took Mr Darwin to court yesterday to ask magistrates in Hartlepool to grant them more time to question him.

Earlier, a police source said the prison officer was sticking to his story that he had no recollection of the missing years of his life.

But later Detective Inspector Andy Greenwood told reporters: “He is putting forward some sort of account.”

However, Mr Greenwood said he could not yet give any further details about what Mr Darwin had told police because it was “a complicated and protracted inquiry”.

The police were granted a 36-hour extension to question the suspect.

Mr Greenwood said Mr Darwin was “calm” and “relaxed” during the brief, private court hearing.

The detective said the fraud suspect was aware of the coverage the case had generated, and knew of the photograph of him and his wife, but the officer would not comment on Mr Darwin’s reaction.

His sons have tried to stay away from the media spotlight.

Mark, who shared a flat in North Finchley, London, was reported to have left the house suddenly, while his brother has also left his home in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Police remain in telephone contact with them, and a source insisted they were being treated as victims of the scam.

Mr Greenwood said: “They are keeping their heads down,” he said.

“The press release they gave was an indication of how badly they have been affected.

“It is for me to decide at a later date if they are witnesses.”

The sons issued a statement on Thursday asking: “How could our mam continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?”

Reports suggested former colleagues of Ms Darwin, a doctor’s receptionist, heard her whispering to a man on the telephone who they suspected was her “dead” husband.

They contacted Cleveland Police three months ago.

Officers said they wanted to speak to an angler who claimed to have met John Darwin while fishing in Cornwall 18 months ago.

Dockyard worker Matt Autie, 37, said he now recognised his fishing friend as Mr Darwin from newspaper coverage.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said yesterday that officers were trying to trace Mr Autie, from Helston, Cornwall.

“We would need to speak to him, it is all part of the inquiry, I am sure it is in progress at the moment,” said the police spokesman.

Mr Autie told the Sun the man he says is Mr Darwin told him: “I have gone missing, it worked out better for me and my missus.”

The inquiry team appealed for help in piecing together Mr Darwin’s movements since March 2001, and have received several dozen calls to a special hotline.

The force has also received 32 emails, mainly from the US and Panama.

Timeline of ‘missing’ mystery

March 21, 2002

John Darwin is last seen paddling out to sea at 8am.

March 22, 2002

The shattered remains of his red canoe are found washed up on a beach in Seaton Carew.

A massive search involving police and coastguard is launched. They scour the coastline from Hartlepool down to Staithes, North Yorkshire, but no trace is found.

April 2003

An open verdict is recorded at an inquest into Mr Darwin’s death.

November 2007

Anne Darwin sells their house in Seaton Carew and moves to an apartment in the offshore financial centre of Panama City.

30 November

Mr Darwin’s son Mark leaves his job as an international property consultant at EC Harris.

December 1

At 5.30pm Mr Darwin enters a police station in London. “I think I am a missing person,” he says.

December 2

His sons, Mark, 31, and Anthony, 29, are called to an “emotional reunion” with their father.

December 3

Mr Darwin’s 90-year-old father, Ronald Darwin of Blackhall Colliery, Co Durham, tells the Evening Standard: “I always said to the police that there might be more to this than it appeared at first.”

December 4

Mr Darwin’s sons say their father cannot remember anything since 2000. His wife Anne is traced to an apartment in Panama City. She tells reporters she is thrilled he is alive and looking forward to seeing him again but fears she may have to pay back the life insurance pay-out she received.

Mr Darwin’s aunt Margaret Burns, 80, says: “I’m a cynic now. To be honest I don’t believe he ever got wet.”

December 5

Mr Darwin is arrested at his son’s home in Hampshire, and later for questioning and a medical examination by Cleveland Police.

Ms Darwin admits she knew her husband was alive. She says they deceived their two sons.

December 6

The Darwins’ sons withdraw their support and issue a statement saying: “How could our mam continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?. We want no further contact with them.”

Ms Darwin says she does not blame them but hopes they will be able to forgive her.