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Wife on fraud charges
THE WIFE of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin has appeared in court charged with obtaining more than £150,000 by deception.
Anne Darwin appeared before Hartlepool Magistrates' Court earlier today where she spoke only to confirm her name.
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Wearing a cream zip-up tracksuit top, the 55-year-old was flanked by a female security guard and showed little emotion during the five minute hearing.
No bail application was made and Mrs Darwin was remanded in custody until Friday when she will appear before the court via video link.
Magistrates heard a very brief outline of the case before declining jurisdiction and sending the case up to crown court.
Chairman of the bench Stephen Hall told the court: "We concur with the prosecution that because of the sums involved, it is too serious to be heard at magistrates' court. Therefore we direct it to Teesside Crown Court."
It is thought that Mrs Darwin, described in court as of no fixed address, will now be sent to Durham's Low Newton Prison.
Mrs Darwin is charged with two counts of obtaining money by deception on May 16, 2003 and May 29, 2003.
The first charge relates to a sum of 25,000 while the second is in relation to a sum of 137,515.
Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Darwin's solicitor, Nicola Finnerty, said: "My client hopes that her family are well and she's very sorry for any stress that she may have caused them.
"She doesn't want to say any more than that."
Mrs Darwin lived at The Cliff, Seaton Carew, for five years after her husband's disappearance in a supposed canoeing accident on March 21, 2002, near their home.
She recently moved to Panama and was arrested earlier this week after returning to England following her husband's unexpected appearance at a London police station.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Sunday 12 February 2012
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Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
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