However his plan was foiled when the police and his shocked granny attended.

The 26-year-old, wanted for a long list of offences including fraud and theft, placed a death notice in the Ouest-France regional paper and online.

"His mother, father, brothers, sister and the whole of the family would like to inform you of the death of (Cedric L.), who passed away on Thursday, September 11th, at the age of 26," the notice read.

"The funeral will be celebrated Tuesday, September 16th at 10:30."

But police became suspicious turned up to the funeral at the appointed time to find neither a body nor a funeral.