Canoe husband 'cheated on wife'

Anne Darwin denies deception and money-laundering charges

The wife of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin has told a jury she forgave her husband after he cheated on her.

Giving evidence in her defence at Teesside Crown Court, Anne Darwin said she considered leaving him but "didn't know how she would cope" without him.

She is accused of taking part in a "complicated plot" to fraudulently claim £250,000 in pension and insurance funds and start a new life.

The 56-year-old denies deception and money-laundering charges.

Mr Darwin has admitted deception and will be sentenced later.

Speaking on the fourth day of her trial, Mrs Darwin said she had no sexual relations with anyone before they were married and none with anyone else since.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS March 2002 - John Darwin reported missing in the sea off Seaton Carew Search and rescue operation finds no trace of his body Weeks later, his red canoe washes up on a nearby beach April 2003 - coroner records open verdict into John Darwin's death Anne Darwin collects life insurance and pension policies worth about £250,000 Summer 2007 - Anne Darwin moves to Panama December 2007 - John Darwin walks into a police station and declares himself a missing person Photograph emerges showing Anne and John Darwin together in Panama Both are charged with deception offences John Darwin admits deception, but his wife denies the charges July 2008 - Anne Darwin's trial starts on Teesside

The court heard she eventually found out her husband was having an affair.

She said: "I was quite obviously upset when I found out about the relationship.

"I did consider leaving him, but I just couldn't see a life without him. I didn't know how I would cope on my own so I forgave him."

David Waters QC, defending, asked: "Did you still love him?" and she replied: "Yes."

Mrs Darwin said her husband turned secretive when he joined an internet role-playing game.

She said: "It was like a virtual world which was played over the internet.

"The people who played it became characters in this world and they had money to buy and sell things and they used to cast spells on each other.

"He became rather cagey when using the headphones and speaking into the computer if I came into the room. It was obvious he was in conversation."

Mr Darwin later flew out to Kansas in the US to meet a woman, who his wife believes he met while playing the game.

She said she did not try to stop him, saying: "There was not much point because I knew there was no point in arguing because, whatever John wanted, John got."

She also painted a picture of a domineering husband who loved to get his own way.

"Superficially he would discuss things with me but my thoughts never seemed to carry any weight.

The Darwins' sons were in court to hear their mother give evidence

"What he wanted he would get in the end. He treated me like a second-year pupil.

"I would just be talked down to. He went on and on about things until I just gave up trying."

Before John Darwin's disappearance, the couple owned about a dozen properties in the Durham area.

Mrs Darwin told the court they bought the first home in their property portfolio to make up for her not having a pension.

She was against buying further properties after that experience, but said her husband was adamant.

She also said she had no idea about the level of debt they were in, and always wanted to pay domestic bills immediately.

"He would say 'don't pay them now, wait until the red letter arrives, keep the money in the bank and get some interest'.

"He was always the one who dealt with the finances."

Mr Darwin vanished from the sea close to his home near Hartlepool in March 2002 and the wreckage of his canoe washed up on a beach weeks later.

He walked into a police station in December last year, claiming to be suffering from amnesia.

Mr Darwin will be sentenced following the conclusion of his wife's trial.