Canoe man's wife guilty of fraud

Anne Darwin, 56, had claimed her "domineering" husband forced her to go through with the plan to con insurance and pension companies by faking his death at sea.

But the jury at Teesside Crown Court rejected her defence and convicted her of six counts of fraud and nine of money laundering after a seven day trial.

Darwin tricked everyone, including her sons Mark and Anthony, with "superb aplomb", maintaining the lie for over five years while she and her former prison officer husband set up a new life in Panama.

But her defence of "marital coercion" was undermined when the prosecution produced emails they sent each other.

Anne Darwin showed no reaction as the jury foreman delivered the verdicts after four hours of deliberation.

The Darwins hatched the plot as they hurtled towards bankruptcy. The elaborate plan involved Mr Darwin paddling out into the North Sea in March, 2002, in his home-made canoe, within sight of their home in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, then going into hiding while his wife claimed he was missing at sea.

With her husband living rough in Cumbria, the grey-haired former doctor's receptionist began the process of declaring him dead, and conning insurers and pension funds out of the £250,000.

Before his wife's trial Darwin had admitted seven counts of fraud and one of dishonestly obtaining a passport. He denied nine counts of money laundering, which will remain on file.

The couple will be sentenced at 2pm.