Canoeist's wife 'hurt friend with lies'

The best friend of Anne Darwin spoke today of how she was betrayed by the wife of the back-from-the-dead canoeist.

Irene Blakemore told a jury at Teesside Crown Court how upset she was at the lies Mrs Darwin had allegedly spun her.

David Waters, QC, defending, asked Mrs Blakemore in cross-examination: “You look upon yourself as a very loyal friend? You must feel very let-down and bitter?”

She replied: “Yes. Very hurt. Devastated.”

Mrs Darwin, 56, denies six counts of fraud and nine counts of money laundering.