Anne Darwin's regret at 'unforgivable lies' to sons over John Darwin's 'death'

Anne Darwin regrets lying to her sons over her and John Darwin's 'fake death' plan.

The couple hit the headlines when it was revealed that the pair had worked together for John to fake his death and claim the £250,000 from the life insurance, with their story being examined in new ITV drama, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe.

In an unearthed interview, Anne shared her regret at keeping it a secret from her sons - Mark and Anthony - and she desperately tried to reach out to them in the hope they would forgive her and their father for what they did.

Monica Dolan plays Anne Darwin, whilst Eddie Marsan stars as John Darwin in the ITV drama (ITV)

The pair planned their escape to Panama, but eventually John decided to take himself to the police, feigning amnesia, before he was eventually sentenced for his crime as was his wife Anne.

"After the truth came out that we’d been living in Panama together, I continually wrote to Mark and Anthony to say, 'I am so sorry. I really do love you.' But they refused to see or talk to me," she said in an interview with The Guardian in 2016.

"The first time I set eyes on them was at my trial when Mark was the first to testify against me. After he left the witness box, he only lifted his eyes fleetingly. I was totally shocked by how dark and full of anger they were."

The real Anne Darwin (Getty Images)

The real John Darwin (Getty Images)

She added: "To see that was absolutely horrendous. It jolted me. I could easily have buckled then and there."

Anne had previously explained how John was convinced he could get away with his lies.

"He was convinced he would get away with this story of amnesia, I never expected him to get away with it. I was just relieved the lies would be over," she said on a chat on ITV's This Morning in 2016.

Monica Dolan as Anne Darwin (Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)

"I am dreadfully ashamed of that, I should never have done it. I didn't have the confidence to stand up against John."

Anne received six years and six months for her part in the fraud, adding: "I was given no indication that the sentence would be that long. It came as a shock," she explained, "Yes, I committed the crime and I deserved to be punished. I wasn't prepared for that at all."

Anne is played by Monica Dolan in the ITV series.