John Darwin was driven by the pursuit of cash.

Among his plans were snail breeding and making garden gnomes, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The canoeist ran market stalls, wrote computer games, and also dabbled on the Stock Market. The jury was told that the couple amassed a property portfolio of around a dozen homes across the Durham area. They were told that he bought some houses on a credit card.

His son, Anthony Darwin, told the court: “I remember hearing that he was buying a property on his credit card. I believe at the time the properties were rather cheap.”

Anne Darwin's performance of a lifetime

Trial for fraud and money-laundering revealed an elaborate five-year-long deceit that fooled many people

Multimedia

• The police tapes

• Pictures: the great canoe fraud

Background

• John Darwin's money-making schemes

• Canoe man and Bond boost Panama tourism

• Darwin wife: I wished he had drowned

Related Links

• Anne Darwin's performance of a lifetime

• Canoe man and Bond boost Panama tourism

He was a teacher who retrained to become a financial advisor for Barclays Bank before changing career again and becoming a prison officer at Holme House Prison, Stockton, Teesside.

The canoeist's other son, Mark Darwin, agreed with David Waters, QC, for the defence, that “the appearance of wealth is important to your father”.

The court heard that he enjoyed driving his Range Rover with its personalised number plate. In a statement to police, Mark called the number plate “cherished”. He told the court: “It was something he had in front of his car that he liked having there.”

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