Canoe fraudster John Darwin order to surrender £40,000 to authorities
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Version 0 of 1. John Darwin, who faked his own death in a canoeing accident, has been ordered to pay a £40,000 lump sum to the authorities after two of his pensions matured. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Teesside crown court heard Darwin had so far paid back only £121 of the £679,000 he was found to have benefited from by faking his own death. Darwin, 63, of Seaton Carew near Hartlepool, did not challenge the application to remove the money from his bank accounts, which are the subject of restraints. The pensions were understood to have been earned legitimately from his time as a teacher and a prison officer. The prosecutor, Jolyon Perks, said after the hearing that it was not the end of the matter for Darwin, and that should he come into more money, further applications would be made. "We believe it sends a strong signal to those who seek to benefit from their criminal conduct that these orders have teeth," he said. "They will be pursued and they will be rigorously enforced … The Proceeds of Crime Act is intended to be draconian." Darwin did not comment as he left the same court where he and his wife, Anne, were jailed for fraud in 2008. Anne Darwin, now separated from her husband, has repaid more than £500,000 under a separate order after selling properties held in her name. She still has around £177,000 to pay back. John Darwin was reported missing while canoeing in the North Sea in March 2002. His wife collected more than £500,000 in life insurance payouts while he hid in their home, leaving their two sons to believe he was dead. In December 2007, Darwin walked into a London police station claiming he had amnesia, and was reunited with his sons, who were stunned to hear he was alive. His wife, who had fled with him to Panama, pretended to be shocked until a photograph emerged of them posing together after his supposed death. She was jailed for six-and-a-half years for fraud and money laundering. Outside court DS Tommy Maughan from the north-east regional asset recovery team said: "I'm pleased with the outcome today. Mr Darwin has now seen firsthand the full force of the Proceeds of Crime Act legislation in action. "It's a robust law that allows police and prosecutors to make sure those who have benefited from crime pay back what they owe until their debt is paid. "The court assessed how much John Darwin benefited from crime some time ago, and today they have taken into account recently identified assets which the judge has agreed can be confiscated. I would like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service for their assistance in bringing this application to court. "His full benefit from crime has still not been paid off, and if he comes into any substantial assets in the future we will again consider asking the court to revisit the confiscation order granted against him in 2009. "Criminals should be warned that even if assets are gained legitimately this legislation can be used and their crimes may just come back to haunt them." |