A couple who made false claims to obtain housing benefit of more than £12,000 were warned by magistrates they could be jailed.

Dennis Bruzas, 46, and his wife 44-year-old wife Denise claimed the benefit to pay the rent for their flat in York Road, Hove, but failed to inform Brighton and Hove City Council that she was working for the council as a school cleaner.

Dennis Bruzas admitted at Brighton Magistrates Court two offences of providing false information to claim housing benefit and council tax benefit. His wife admitted four similar offences.

Len Batten, prosecuting for the city council, told the court the offences were committed between 1996 and January this year.

He said they came to light after the council ran a check on its staff through the national fraud initiative, which can match national insurance numbers to benefit claims.

The check revealed Mrs Bruzas was working as a part-time cleaner and midday school supervisory assistant. She had also been working at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and at a Brighton store.

At the same time the couple both claimed they were out of work and received Jobseekers Allowance.

Magistrates ordered pre-sentence reports and adjourned the case until July 23.