'Canoe Death' Darwin Couple Lose Appeal

"Back-from-the-dead" canoeist John Darwin has been assaulted in jail after another inmate recognised him as a former prison warder, it has emerged.

He was reportedly punched several times in the face and nose by a fellow prisoner, just days after he was transferred to Everthorpe jail in East Yorkshire this month.

The 58-year-old was jailed in July at Teesside Crown Court for six years and three months after admitting faking his own death in a canoeing accident to allow his wife, Anne, to make fraudulent insurance and pension claims.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "A prisoner was treated by Everthorpe prison healthcare staff on September 7 following an assault by another prisoner."

The attack took place because Darwin used to work as a warder at Holme House prison in Stockton, according to the Hartlepool Mail.

A prison source told the paper: "After a paedophile, the next worst thing to be in prison is an ex-screw.

"He is always going to be an easy target for attack."

John Darwin faked his death in 2002 in the sea close to the home he shared with his wife in Seaton Carew near Hartlepool.

The couple fled to Panama once Mrs Darwin had straightened out their perilous finances when the fraudulently claimed insurance money came through.

She also cashed in the couple's 12-home property portfolio and had set about making a new life in Central America when Mr Darwin suddenly handed himself in at a London police station in November last year.

His claims to be suffering amnesia did not stand up to the huge international scrutiny which the incredible story swiftly generated.

Earlier this month Mr Darwin's solicitor John Nixon said he had made an application to the Court of Appeal for the right to challenge his prison sentence.

Mrs Darwin has already launched an appeal bid against both her conviction and the six-and-a-half-year sentence she received for her part in the elaborate plot.

I don`t condone violence in jail or anywhere.But I think the Darwins treated their sons abominably.
What goes around comes around.

Krisy22 wrote:I don`t condone violence in jail or anywhere.But I think the Darwins treated their sons abominably.
What goes around comes around.

I agree Krissy. The Darwins are selfish cruel people, i'm glad Mr D has had a kicking because prison alone isn't such a tough call. He'll be out before you know it because he's not dangerous enough to bother wasting resources on. From me to you Mr D :Smack:

Krisy22 wrote:I don`t condone violence in jail or anywhere.But I think the Darwins treated their sons abominably.
What goes around comes around.

Your right there. How can people do that to their own children.

Yep they did a bad thing to their sons.....

Why didn't he just leave his clothes in pile and go 'missing' in the showers??

Krisy22 wrote:I don`t condone violence in jail or anywhere.But I think the Darwins treated their sons abominably.
What goes around comes around.

This man went off knowing he could never see his sons again. Money was more imprtant than that. How bad is that?

10:33am UK, Friday March 27, 2009
"Back-from-the-dead" canoeist John Darwin and his wife have lost their appeals against jail sentences for their £250,000 fraud scam.



Former teacher Mr Darwin, 58, wanted a reduction in his sentence of six years and three months imposed at Teesside Crown Court last July for admitted deception charges.

His wife Anne, 56, a former doctor's receptionist, was convicted of six counts of fraud and nine of money laundering after a trial.

She was sentenced to six-and-a-half years, which she claimed was "excessive".

Both appeals have been lost.

The pair were imprisoned over a swindle that deceived the police, a coroner, financial institutions and even their sons, Mark, 32, and Anthony, 29.

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

Trial judge Mr Justice Wilkie told the Darwins their sons' lives were "crushed" by the deception, and that meant a severe sentence was needed.

The crown court had heard how the plan to hoax insurers and pension schemes into believing Mr Darwin was dead was hatched as the couple faced losing their Hartlepool home in 2002.

They had a 12-home property portfolio and were struggling to make mortgage repayments when he paddled into the sea in his home-made canoe and then disappeared.

He reappeared at a London police station in December 2007, claiming he had amnesia and thought he was a missing person.

No more sailing trips for this guy for a while then

Well what did they excpect? They lied and stole money.
What they did to their sons was inexcusable.