A former fishing boat skipper yesterday told Peterhead Sheriff Court that he deliberately sank his vessel twelve years ago to fraudulently recover £584,000.

In October 1994, Aberdeenshire-born Francis Wiseman tampered with valves below deck on theSeaward Quest, causing sea water to flood into the engine room. The trawler subsequently sank in calm seas off Shetland and the crew was rescued.

The Court heard that the fraudulent scheme came to light only two years ago after Mr Wiseman found religion and confessed his role in the insurance scam to a friend at church. Mr Wiseman’s confession was eventually reported to the insurance company in June 2004. Six months later, Mr Wiseman voluntarily went to the police and admitted his role in the sinking.

Mr Wiseman will be sentenced next next month.