AN online fraudster who scammed victims out of more than £21,000 and evaded justice by fleeing to Spain has finally admitted his guilt.

More than four years after the crimes took place, Norman Fowler admitted conning people into thinking they were buying high end cameras, laptops and Rolex watches, taking their cash and never sending the items.

Fowler, 38, had denied nine counts of fraud by false representation but changed his pleas this moning - shortly before a trial was due to take place at Chelmsford Crown Court.

During the hearing, Fowler admitted to defrauding three buyers out of £550, £1,150 and £1,160 respectively by getting them to pay for Canon cameras in January and February 2013 and never sending the items.

He also admitted taking £650 from someone expecting to receive an iMac computer.

In April of the same year he conned another internet user out of £5,030 by pretending to sell them another Canon camera and high specification lens, £1,415 from a shopper wanting to purchase a Canon and £565 from someone interested in buying an Apple Macbook Air computer.

His final scams, in April and May 2013 were getting two people to pay £5,500 and £5,320 for Seadweller Rolex watches.

Fowler lived in Propelair Way, Colchester, at the time of the alleged frauds but moved to North End, North Lincolshire.

After being found guilty of separates thefts of camera equipment at Norwich Crown Court in December 2014, Fowler fled the country.

He was arrested in the Costa Brava in Spain in October last year under a European Arrest Warrant having been wanted for the fraud matter.

Fowler was flown back to the UK from Madrid where he has been remanded in custody ever since.

Last year he claimed he was too ill to plea or stand trial.

During the short hearing, Fowler - who was dressed in a blue Polo shirt - looked over at a family member who had come to support him and spoke only to confirm his name and his pleas.

A pre-sentence report from the probation service and another another from prison medical staff is set to be prepared before he is sentenced next month.