A man who cheated in the London Marathon by crossing the finish line with a legitimate runner’s lost number has pleaded guilty to fraud.

Stanislaw Skupian was pictured at the end of the 26.2-mile race celebrating with a medal after picking up Jake Halliday’s race identifier near the finish line.

Scotland Yard said Skupian was charged on 18 May and appeared at Uxbridge magistrates court. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed on Friday that he pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation at the hearing.

The charge, detailed in court papers, states Skupian used a “stolen race identifier for the London Marathon” and crossed the finish line.

It says he intended to make a gain for himself, “namely a finisher’s medal and other items associated with completing the London Marathon”.

Skupian, of no fixed address, also admitted to three further charges of theft at Heathrow airport. He has been remanded in custody.

Halliday, who had been running for the charity Bloodwise, did not complete the race after losing his number.

He said on Friday he was unaware Skupian had pleaded guilty and did not want to comment on the case.

A London Marathon spokeswoman said organisers would not comment until the end of the legal process.