He added: "I didn't think anything of this scale would come of it five-and-a-half years on."

He said: "Was it Robert Burns that said 'The best-laid plans of mice and men...'

"Because his scam has involved government departments as well as the insurance company and you are talking about £250,000 he will probably go to jail.

"I don't think he deserves jail, because he hasn't gone out of his way to con anyone. He has done more damage to himself and his family than anybody else.

"I feel sorry for his family. It's almost like when a wife or husband finds the partner's been cheating. It must be devastating."

In general terms he said the Darwin saga put Hartlepool and Seaton Carew on the tourism map.

He said: "It's brought Hartlepool and Seaton to the fore a little bit and hopefully people have seen the shots on TV.

"It's brought a bit of life back to Seaton. There have been some great shots of the sea and landscape.

"I will be following the case out of curiosity but in real terms I think people now know where Hartlepool is."