John Darwin, 57, pleaded guilty on Thursday at Leeds Crown Court in northern England to seven charges of obtaining cash by deception, but denied nine further charges of using criminal property.

He was charged last December after walking into a police station claiming amnesia. His wife had reported him missing in 2002 after he failed to return to their home and he was thought to have drowned at sea in a canoeing accident.

His wife, Anne Darwin, appeared in court with him and denied six deception charges and nine of using criminal property.

The broken remains of his red kayak were discovered a few weeks later. A coroner declared Darwin dead in 2003 after a police inquiry.

The pair were arrested and charged late last year after newspapers published a photograph of them apparently together in Central America. They are accused of fraud worth nearly 250,000 pounds (S$700,00). -- REUTERS