One bizarre true story that has gripped the nation this week in the ITV drama The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe. Back in March 2002 former prison officer faked his own death in a canoe accident after he was seen paddling off the coast of Durham.
John had created crippling debts of £700,000 and was on the verge of bankruptcy and as a result the former teacher decided to fake his own death. He then asked wife Anne to help with his lie and claim £250,000 from his life insurance.
After his accident John lived in secret in a bedsit that adjoined the couple's home near Hartlepool. During that time he would visit his wife Anne through a door that connected the two properties.
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Five years later the couple started a new life in Panama however it turned out that you could not live or work in the country without having your identity confirmed by British authorities. As a result he decided to turn up at a Police station in London in a bid to return to normal life.
However, Police were already suspicious as a result of Anne's trip to Panama. They were finally rumbled after a picture emerged on the internet of the couple in a Panama estate agents.
The duo were later arrested and found guilty of fraud. They were both given a six-year jail sentence.
A new documentary telling the story of what happened - The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe: The Real Story - will air on ITV at 9pm on Thursday night.
John was released from prison in January 2011 shortly before his wife Anne. Whilst in prison Anne decided that she wanted to leave John and the pair later got divorced.
John now has a new life along with a new wife called Mercy May and the pair live in
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