Swarling Hill Road, Petham. Picture: Google Street View

A man's been charged with faking his own death in Honduras in a daring 'Canoe Man'-style insurance scam.

Anthony McErlean is accused of fraud after it was alleged he made a false claim to an insurance firm of more than half a million pounds.

The 66-year-old is accused of making the fraudulent claim to Ace Insurance, of Glasgow, that he died in Honduras between December 2009 and May last year.

McErlean, of Swarling Hill Road, Petham, Canterbury, appeared at the city's magistrates court this morning.

He has been remanded in custody until April 6.

No-one else is believed to have been charged in connection with the allegations.

So far, KentOnline has been unable to track down McErlean's wife who is believed to be Honduran.

It follows the case of John Darwin, who was jailed for faking his own death in a canoe accident.

Darwin turned up alive in December 2007, five years after he was thought to have died in the North Sea off Seaton Carew in Hartlepool.

The 60-year-old was released in January after serving half his six-year sentence.

Do you know Mr McErlean? E-mail us atmultimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 01634 227 834.