A pensioner charged with faking his own death was back before magistrates today.

Anthony McErlean, 66, is alleged to have faked his own death in a road accident in Honduras in December 2009.

Between December 5, 2009 and March 31, 2010 allegedly pretended to be his wife in order to claim £520,000 from a life insurance policy.

McElean, from Swarling Hill Road, Petham, was remanded in custody to reappear before Canterbury Magistrates' Court next Thursday.

He is also charged with dishonestly claiming to have lost his passport in order to gain a new one between March 15 and 18 this year.

McErlean is also remanded on two further charges of fraudulent claims against his late father-in-law's pension, £27,615.08 from the Port of London Pension Fund and £40,658.67 from the Department of Work and Pensions between March 1, 2007 and April 5, 2011.