'Missing person' couple to face further charges

Back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin and his wife Anne have been charged with additional counts of deception, Cleveland Police said tonight.

Back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin and his wife Anne have been charged with additional counts of deception, Cleveland Police in England said tonight.

Mr Darwin (aged 57) and his wife (aged 55) will appear before Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court tomorrow to face the new charges.

Both appeared last month at the same court on deception charges where they were remanded in custody.

Mr Darwin is already charged with dishonestly obtaining £25,000 (€33,536) and making an untrue statement to procure a passport.

His wife was accused of dishonestly obtaining a £25,000 (€33,536) life insurance payment and a policy worth £137,000 (€183,778).

A Cleveland Police spokesman said tonight: “John and Anne Darwin have today been charged with additional charges of deception and will be appearing at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court in the morning.”

Mr Darwin walked into a London police station on December 1 and declared: “I think I’m a missing person.”

He had disappeared from his home in Seaton Carew, Teesside, in March 2002 and was presumed drowned after his wrecked canoe was found. The following year a coroner officially declared him dead.

It was later alleged his wife had known he was not dead – and that he had been living next door to the family home for much of his apparent disappearance.

Last month, detectives said the couple’s two sons, Mark and Anthony Darwin, were never made aware that their father was still alive and were innocent “victims” of the charade.

The Darwins spent Christmas in separate prisons after their last appearance before Hartlepool Magistrates Court on December 14.