by Paul Hooper

A 67-year-old Canterbury man has admitted faking his own death - to pocket a £520,000 insurance payout.

Anthony McErlean was thought to have died in a road accident in Honduras in December 2009.

A claim was made to Glasgow-based Ace Insurance in the name of McErlean's wife Sonya - claiming he had been killed in the crash.

But now the white-haired bespectacled pensioner appeared in the dock at Canterbury Crown Court.

He was asked by the clerk: "Are you Anthony McErlean?"

And he answered in a loud voice: "Yes I am sir!"

He then pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud, that between December 2009 and May 2010, he had claimed more than £500,000 in accidental death benefits in the name of his wife, alleging he had died in a road traffic accident in December 2009.

McErlean, of Swarling Hill Road, Petham also admitted stealing £27,615 from a pension fund from the Port of London Authority and £40,658 from the Department of Works and Pension.

The charges are believed to relate to fraudulent claims made in the name of his father-in-law between March 2007 and March 2011.

His lawyer Peter Alcock asked for sentence to be adjourned for a month pending the preparation of probation and medical reports.

He told the court that McErlean, who is remanded in custody, had complained to the prison authorities about chest pains that he claimed he was suffering "about two to three times a week".

McErlean also pleaded guilty to fraudulently attempting to obtain a passport by claiming it was lost.

The judge Recorder Peter Gower QC warned him that he faced a prison sentence and asked him if he understood that.

McErlean replied: "I do sir!".

Glen Marr, director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau, said: "The insurance industry takes all form of insurance fraud very seriously.

"This shows the positive results that can be achieved by the insurance industry and law enforcement working in unison.

"Our industry is no longer an easy target for these criminals and we are determined to protect our genuine customers."