Larkins pleads guilty to deception

Former England batsman Wayne Larkins is facing jail after pleading guilty to deception for attempting to illegally obtain a mortgage secured against the house of his partner's sick father.

Taunton Crown Court was told that Larkins and his partner Debbie Lines tried to defraud Robert Adams. Lines owned a half-share in her father's house, but forged his signature on documents to show that she and Larkins owned the property outright.

The pair then posed as the owners of the house to obtain a Birmingham Midshire loan of £155,000. Around £60,000 of that was paid to Adams for his half share in the house, but the balance was used to buy property in France.

The scam came to light in July 2005 after the building society contacted Adams about payment arrears.

Judge Graham Hume- Jones postponed sentence until January.