THE sons of John and Anne Darwin are being treated as victims and not suspects, police revealed.

Detective Superintendent Tony Hutchinson said Anthony, 29, and Mark, 32, had been "duped'' and had been treated disgracefully.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, he said: "Certainly, as we sit here now, there is nothing whatsoever to suggest that the sons of John and Anne are anything other than victims of this case.

"Of course, if this is the case, they have been duped in what can only be described as a really disgraceful fashion.

"They have been led to believe for the past five years that their father is dead. He then walks back into their lives with apparent amnesia.

"Certainly, if they were to be nothing other than victims, then our hearts go out to them."

The pair have not spoken to their parents since Mr Darwin was arrested last Tuesday evening in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

But they have remained in contact with police.

Mark, who lives in Finchley, north London, left his job at EC Harris, an international property consultants, on November 30, but a spokesman for the company said he had worked his notice and had not left abruptly.

Anthony left his insurance job with Towergate Risk Solutions, in Reading, in August.

After hearing the news that their father had walked into a north London police station on December 1, they expressed their shock and happiness.

But following his arrest on suspicion of fraud, the brothers issued a statement last week, expressing their anger at the situation.

They said: "If the papers' allegations of a confession from our mam are true, then we very much feel that we have been the victims of a large scam.

"How could our mam continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?

"We have not spoken to either of our parents since our dad's arrest, and, at this present time, we want no further contact with them."

Mr Darwin, 57, is being held at Durham Prison on charges of making an untrue statement to get a passport and obtaining a money transfer by deception in relation to a life insurance policy.

His wife, Anne, 55, was last night charged with two counts of deception.

She was arrested at Manchester Airport, on Sunday morning.

Latest reports suggest that two insurance companies, allegedly the victims of fraud, will be taking legal action to recover the payouts.

A spokesman for Norwich Union would not confirm this, but said: "We are not making any comment at all because Mr Darwin has been arrested and charged and as has Mrs Darwin, because it could prejudice the case."

Unat Direct Insurance Management Limited, who was allegedly defrauded of £25,000, was unavailable for comment.