Prime time drama The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe aired on ITV on Sunday, telling the scandal of 'canoe man' John Darwin.
It's been exactly 20 years since the story emerged of Darwin going missing following a paddle close to his home in Seaton Carew, with alarm bells ringing after the 51-year-old at the time failed to turn up for work at Holme House Prison in Stockton. At the time, while he was missing and presumed dead, John was alive and hidden at the family home - with his wife Anne being in on the disappearance.
The scheme itself was conjured up as a last resort which allowed them Anne to illegally cash in on John's £250,000 life insurance when the couple found themselves in substantial amounts of debt. The fraudulent act led to a widespread search before it was called off with John presumed dead, while he was still living in secret at his own family home, as well as the vacant house next door.
