ANNE Darwin leaves jail today no doubt believing she is heading for an emotional reunion with canoe conman husband John.
But the 59-year-old’s dreams of a reconciliation could be in tatters as she finds he has been planning to divorce her for a younger woman.
He had duped his loyal wife of 37 years into believing they would rekindle their marriage after spending nearly three years apart in prison. But the 60-year-old has spent much of that time writing a string of letters to Lorraine Forbes, begging her for sex, which he refers to as “Option 3”.
He also boasts of being something of a “celebrity” in the small town where he now lives after faking his own death at sea in a canoe to swindle thousands of pounds out of insurers.
And he told how he plans to cash in on his notoriety with books on his crime.
Darwin struck up a friendship with jobless Lorraine, 43, from his cell when she started writing to him in February, 2008. Last week, he even sent her a National Express train ticket to ferry her to his side. But at the last minute, Darwin cancelled, telling her he was worried about the press getting wind of their relationship.
Lorraine, who handed us a pile of Darwin’s letters, said: “I don’t know what is in John’s mind, why invite me on Saturday if he knew his wife was coming out. Why send me the ticket down?
“Why would his wife go back to him. How can they live together after everything that has happened?
“I probably don’t mean anything to him, there’s definitely nothing between us now. Our letters were sexual. I care about his feelings and I don’t want to upset him.”
In one recent note to Lorraine, dated February 7, 2011 – after his release – he wrote: “Dear Lorraine, I’m FREE!! Now in every sense of the word. I’m divorcing Anne. There’s little point in remaining ‘married’ if she is adamant in going her own way. I need someone for company, to talk to, do things together, share experiences and for my daily medicine of your ‘Option 3’.”
Despite telling Anne he would wait for her on the outside as she completes her six and a half year sentence at Askham Grange prison near York, Darwin said to Lorraine, of Eastbourne, East Sussex, he wanted a “long-term relationship” with her.
He added: “Life is too short. We may as well enjoy ourselves before it is too late...you never know you may enjoy living with me.” His letters were written from different jails around the North and in them he sets his sights on bedding Lorraine.
Prisoner A1323AC told her he has a “high sex drive... always have and always will have.”
He begged her to visit him once freed with promises of “daily sex” and “deep massages”. One letter, dated October 20, 2010, discussed their potential first night together. Lorraine had provided him with “three wishes” – or options – for the evening.
Option one;was a meal,two a trip to the cinema,
and three an early night, innuendo for sex.
Darwin wrote: “I don’t think I could manage only one of your option (3).
Perhaps it should be as follows. 3, 3, 1, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3...
I’m sure that would fill one day!!
I’m all for helping you with your heating bills.” He also gave 17-stone Lorraine diet tips, writing:
“Option (3) is a great way to tone up the body and burn up calories.
Quite possibly the best diet invented!!! I can hardly wait.”
Darwin also promised to teach Lorraine various “techniques” in bed.
In another, he wrote: “At least you are the same height as me, makes it easier for you to plant those full luscious lips on me.
“I’m presuming you would rather kiss me than an envelope; you can always wear lipstick and leave lip tracks over my body. I’m excited at the thought!!!”
Once freed, Darwin told her he and his new home in Easington Colliery, Co Durham were missing a “woman’s touch”. He added: “If you think you can make a difference to my life, then for goodness sake tell me, and I will arrange for you to come.”
The fraudster told Lorraine he had already got her a dressing gown for her visits. Darwin added: “I bought a ‘towelling’ one which should fit you.”
He revealed he always “sleeps naked” in his king-size bed. Darwin wrote: “As for ‘straight indoors for non-stop sex’, I’ll let you take your coat off first!! I think you will learn a few new positions and I will be surprised if you don’t enjoy the experience. I can be a good teacher.
“But I may make you practice until you get it right.”
Darwin admitted he was penniless, other than £10 in his pocket, and would live on state handouts.
Speaking of his “celebrity” status in the town, he said: “Everyone in this community (thousands of people) know me, smile, say hello, shake my hand whenever I go to the shop, doctors, library, for a walk.”
In another note, he boasts: “It seems everyone mentions me. I’m part of quizzes and on TV shows and papers. One day it will end. Soon I hope.”
Speaking of his planned books, Darwin told Lorraine they would be called Panama & Back, The Other Side of the Door and the Temples of the Gods series, which he plans to write himself.
He said in one letter: “I imagine they will be published, they are all interesting with twists which nobody but myself knows about nor will until the final publication.” He also hinted at wanting to write an adult themed Indiana Jones-style fiction.
Anne was planning to go back to County Durham from jail to meet up with her husband today.
The couple were locked up for fraud after their elaborate 2002 hoax to cash in on life insurance as they faced crippling debts at their home in Seaton Carew.
Five years later he turned up claiming to have suffered amnesia. In fact he had been living a secret life, first in a bedsit adjoining the family home and then in Panama.
Anne even duped their own grown-up sons Mark and Anthony into believing their dad was dead and put them through the heartache of a “funeral”. She claimed she was an unwilling participant in her husband’s schemes but she still raked in more than £600,000 in life insurance and pension payouts after his “death” and started a new life with him in central America.
She was described as a compulsive liar in court and got the longer sentence. Her husband was jailed for six years, three months.
Despite having property and cash seized by police, it recently emerged the couple have £500,000 of assets still in Anne’s name in Panama – well out of reach of the UK authorities.
But in light of his flirting with another woman, former prison officer Darwin may struggle to get hold of any cash.
Timeline
MARCH 21, 2002: John Darwin, then 51, vanishes while canoeing off Seaton Carew, Hartlepool.
MARCH 22, 2002: Coastal search launched. Shattered remains of Darwin’s kayak wash up on the beach several weeks later.
MARCH, 2003: Anne Darwin marks first anniversary of husband’s “death”, taking flowers to beach.
SEPTEMBER 2007: Cleveland police reopen their investigation after receiving new information.
OCTOBER 2007: Anne tells her sons she is moving to Panama.
DECEMBER 1, 2007: John walks into a police station in London. He says: “I think I am a missing person.” He claims to have amnesia.
DECEMBER 5, 2007: John is arrested at his son’s home on suspicion of fraud. The Mirror uncovers a photo showing the Darwin's with an estate agent in Panama.
DECEMBER 8, 2007: John is charged. Police say they want to question Anne, who is still abroad.
DECEMBER 9, 2007: Anne is arrested as she arrives back in the UK.
DECEMBER 17, 2007: Police say the Darwins’ two sons are innocent. The pair declare they want no more contact with their parents.
MARCH 15, 2008: John pleads guilty to seven charges of obtaining cash by deception.
JULY 14, 2008: Anne’s trial begins. She denies six charges of deception and nine of using criminal property.
JULY 23, 2008: Anne is found guilty of helping her husband fake his own death and is sentenced to six-and-a-half years. John gets six years and three months.
JANUARY 20, 2011: John is released and rents a house in Easington Colliery, Co Durham.
MARCH 9, 2011: Anne’s release date from Askham Grange jail, Yorks.
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