A small detail that revealed a big scam (10 photos)

Money is such an attractive substance that people are ready to do anything to get it. Or almost everything.





Spouses John and Ann Darwin lived quietly and peacefully in the city Seaton Carew, in County Durham, worked, raised the sons of Mark and Anthony. Ann worked in a hospital, and her husband retrained from teachers to guards: they paid more in prison.



Newlyweds Darwin

One of Darwin's hobbies was rowing. And one day, March 21, 2002 year, the man went out to sea in a canoe, as he had done dozens of times before. AND did not return. The frightened wife called the police. John was looking for few weeks. Dozens of people and a variety of technique. As a result, the wreckage of Darwin's boat was discovered. Find a person failed. Neither alive nor dead.



Canoe John

As a result, the search was abandoned. And the widow began a black streak. The luxurious family home was purchased with a mortgage. which was necessary keep paying. And compensation in connection with the death of her husband, Ann could get only after 7 years. This is the period set in Britain for declared dead missing.

The case received wide publicity in the press and society. That's why the court, where the woman turned, went to meet her and recognized her husband as dead in just a year.

New life and old husband



The couple's sons

The woman issued a pension for her children and began to receive payments for insurance. In total, Ann received about 500 thousand pounds, although different sources give different amounts.

Darwin began to travel a lot, trying to forget herself. AND As a result, after a couple of years, she moved to Panama for permanent residence. A few years later she reported that a man appeared at the London police station, who calls himself John Darwin - her dead husband.



The same photo

The unfortunate man suffered from amnesia and could not communicate any details. Almost the whole country rejoiced, rejoicing at the miraculous salvation and a successful outcome of a history that has stretched over years. sons took John away from the station. While everyone was jubilant, the web appeared curious photo dated 2006: satisfied and happy John and Ann smiled diligently at the camera. But the catch was in what was done it was a year before John arrived in London.

The Merry Widow



John in character

So the couple had a great time in Panama while in public Anne continued to play the role of the inconsolable widow. Panamanian reporters pressed her against the wall, and she was forced to admit.

The couple were arrested on suspicion of fraud and became understand the intricacies of fraud. The reason turned out to be banal: money. They were sorely lacking, because they had to pay for house and two other properties purchased for business. But funds not enough, debts grew like a snowball.

And the enterprising couple began to consider not quite legal means of enrichment. Choosing in the end among robberies and trade drugs, the most harmless is the insurance scam.

Double bottom



Arrest

The first time after the imaginary death, the man lived in a tent in around the bay, which were not affected by the search operation. After the woman moved him to a secret room, pre-equipped in home. At first he was in it without getting out, and then he began to go out. outside. In a stooping old man dragging his leg (John grew a beard) even acquaintances did not recognize Darwin.

Using the documents of the boy John, who died in the 50s Johnson, the swindler even began to earn extra money, performing one-time assignments. Then the couple grew bolder to the point that they began to openly live in Panama and even make plans to build a legal business. Just in an agency real estate, where fraudsters looked after land for these purposes plot, and this photo was taken.



Entrance to the secret room

For legalization in Panama, it was necessary to provide letter of recommendation from the previous place of residence. It is clear that byit was impossible for the dead man's papers to do so. And instead looking for another country that is more loyal in terms of obtaining citizenship, John decided to pretend to have lost his memory and show up at the police station.

In 2008, fraudsters were sentenced to 6 years in prison freedom. The sons turned away from their parents, because they lived all this time, believing in the death of the father and the grief of the mother. Plus, unlucky the prisoners should also return the misappropriated funds insurance.

hello new life



Prototypes (left) and heroes of the series

The couple were released in 2011. Their paths diverged. After the divorce, Ann moved to York and devoted herself to caring for homeless animals. John, who, even in prison, actively corresponded with women, began to arrange his personal life. As a result, his second wife became Filipina Mercy May Avila, to whom he moved.



"The Thief, His Wife and Canoe"

Without interruption from a happy family life, he wrote a book about his adventures and misadventures and periodically flashed on TV in different show. Apparently, not at all ashamed of his past.

In 2022, the British mini-series The Thief, His wife and canoe", based on the story of the Darwins, the main roles in played by Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan.