UK: Sons of 'missing canoeist' speak of their anger and confusion

The sons of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin today spoke of their “anger and confusion”.

In a statement, Anthony and Mark Darwin said they feared they were the victims of a “large scam” and said they wanted “no further contact” with their parents.

They spoke out as police began to question former prison officer John Darwin, who came back from the dead at the weekend five years after he was feared missing at sea in his canoe.

His wife Anne is facing possible extradition from Panama after admitting that her husband had been with her in the central American country last year – a fact proved when a photograph of the couple together was found on the internet.

Mrs Darwin is facing questions about why she claimed on her husband’s life insurance.

Today Anthony Darwin, 29, from Basingstoke, and his brother Mark, 31, from London, issued a joint statement condemning their parents.

They said: “Having seen the recent media speculation surrounding our parents ever since our dad was arrested, we are very much in an angry and confused state of mind.

“In the short space of time following our dad’s appearance in London on Saturday, we have gone through a rollercoaster of emotion.

“From the height of elation at finding him to be alive to the depths of despair at the recent stories of fraud and these latest pictures. And the shock of being thrust into the media spotlight.

“If the papers’ allegations of a confession from our mam are true then we very much feel that we have been the victims in a large scam.

“How could our mam continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?

“We have not spoken to either of our parents since our dad’s arrest and at this present time we want no further contact with them.

“Cleveland Police have asked for anyone with knowledge of our dad’s whereabouts over the last five years to come forward and we support this wholeheartedly.

“We too want to know where he has been and what he has been doing.

“We have been in constant contact with the police and will be helping them with their enquiries in any way we can.

They added: “We hope that the public can appreciate our shock and frustration at this distressing time and again plea with the media to respect our privacy and allow us to deal with this in the best way we can.”