I spotted 'dead' canoe conman outside his own house... doing the gardening

Ex-colleague saw through Darwin's beard disguise

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

Just 14 months after John Darwin faked his death at sea, his cover was nearly blown when he was seen gardening outside his home.

The fraudster was taking risks because he thought he would not be recognized in his disguise of a beard and a hat.

While his two sons mourned his "death”, Darwin would often potter about in the front yard of his home.

The prison officer vanished at sea in his red canoe in 2002 and was presumed to have drowned.

In fact, he had returned to the family home in Seaton Carew, Co Durham, to live in a secret room behind a wardrobe.

Former colleague Dave Smith spotted him gardening in 2003. He recalled: "He had a long shaggy beard and looked like a caveman, but I knew it was him."

Two other people who worked with Darwin also believed they saw him in the months after his disappearance.

Yet he remained at large for five years as his wife Anne, who was also in on the scam, cashed in more than £500,000 in payouts such as life insurance.

Dave, who worked with Darwin at Holme House prison in Stockton-on tees, claimed staff didn't believe their "irritating and loathsome” colleague had really died at sea, particularly as he had never once mentioned his supposed love of canoeing.

Dave was driving past the house with wife Denise when he saw Darwin in the front driveway. He recalled: “I said to my wife, Christ, that's John Darwin! Denise told me not to be daft.

"I was 100% sure it was him. I turned around as soon as I could and pulled up outside his house to take another look. I couldn't believe my eyes.”

The sighting features in a book, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, by exMirror man David Leigh which inspired the ITV drama series of the same name.