'Canoe Man' John Darwin 'On His Way' To Fight In Ukraine According To His Wife

Darwin, 71, is on his way to Ukraine to take up arms and fight back against the Russian forces, his wife Mercy Mae Avila, 48, has said.

"He will have a bullet-proof vest and good life insurance, good for me."

Darwin hit headlines across the globe after he faked his own disappearance in 2002 as part of an insurance scam with his ex-wife Anne.

Darwin pretended that he had been caught up in a canoeing accident in the North Sea and was presumed dead - meaning Anne could claim on his life insurance.

In reality, Darwin stowed himself away in a room, hidden by a wardrobe at their County Durham home, before flying out to Panama where his Anne later joined him.

The couple even lied to their two sons, who both believed their dad had died.

In 2007, Darwin walked into a police station in London, where he claimed to have complete memory loss - but when an investigation was launched the whole con was revealed.

He and Anne were both jailed in 2008 - he received a sentence of six years and three months, while Anne was given six years and six months.

While inside, the pair, who had been married for more than 30 years, divorced.

Since being released, Darwin has remarried Mercy, who he met online.

A story about the extraordinary scam is set to air on ITV mini series called The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe starring Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan as the Darwins, which is set to air next month.