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Police release photo of Darwin

Updated on 10 December 2007

By Nick Martin

Rasputin rises from the once dead canoeist. As John Darwin is remanded in custody, police hunt anyone who saw him when he looked like this.

He vanished as John Darwin, an ordinary science teacher from Hartlepool. But it's his second, secret life as John Jones, which is the focus of a police investigation

An extraordinary picture released by police today shows John Darwin with a greying scraggy beard - the picture he used when he allegedly applied for a passport using his new name.

With John Darwin in custody on deception charged the man leading the inquiry appealed for information on John's Darwin's missing five years. For five years John Darwin was presumed dead - lost in a canoeing accident off the cost of Hartlepool.

Police: 'no idea Darwin was alive'

Detectives release new photo of John Darwin today and say they had no idea he was alive until he turned up in a police station nine days ago
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That was until he walked into a police station last week claming to be suffering from amnesia. His wife Ann now living in Panama was reportedly amazed.

But the story unravelled in spectacular fashion when a picture emerged - showing the couple, looking for housing in central America last year.

After telling her story to British newspapers Ann Darwin decided to return home, in her words, 'to face the music'. And from the departure lounge, to the plane she cut a lonely figure. Her arrival home was unceremonious - met by armed police and arrested.

Timeline: the missing canoeist

Apparently missing for five years, and declared dead, now John Darwin is in police custody. What happened, and when?
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Police began questioning Anne Darwin at Hartlepool police station this morning - at the same time, John Darwin was being led into the magistrates court just around the corner to face two charges of deception.

In a hearing which lasted only a few minutes John Darwin faced charged of obtaining money by deception - £25,000 - part of his own life insurance. The second of giving false information to obtain a passport.

The couple's two sons have been speaking to police - detectives say they are victims, not suspects.

According to Mrs Darwin her husband spent three of his missing years living in the house her - this hidden door - leading to a secret bedsit.

And tonight, more twists and turns, an objection to a planning application, send in by a John Jones from that address last year. A Jones Jones, who also appears on the elector at the same address.

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