A benefit cheat pocketed more than £53,000 when he claimed rent to live in the £450,000 house he owns.

Paul Doherty, 41, presented Brighton and Hove City Council with fake documents pretending to be from his landlord in order to claim £150 a week in housing benefit and council tax benefit.

The false claims went on for five years before being discovered by the council.

Doherty, who lives in a house in Sillwood Street, Brighton, told council officers he made the fake claims because he was desperate to stay on the housing ladder.

At Brighton Magistrates' Court, Doherty admitted 15 charges relating to making dishonest claims and providing false documents, including tenancy agreements and letters from a landlord.

Len Batten, prosecuting, told the court: "People who apply for housing benefit and council tax benefit are required to give full and honest information or face prosecution."

He said Doherty made his first claim in June 1994, when he bought the city centre house, which does not have a mortgage.

Doherty, who was receiving income support at the time, gave the name of a company called Saxson Properties, in London, as the owner of the house. Letters from the company were signed by a director called Philip Doherty. The rent at that time was £90.

In August last year the council began investigating after another person claimed rent for the same property.

A check on the address Doherty had given for his landlord proved to be a vegetarian restaurant. A further check on the Land Registry revealed Doherty was the owner of the house. A search of Companies House showed no trace of the company called Saxson.

When Doherty was questioned by council officers he said the house had been bought for him by his partner.

Mr Batten said: "He admitted all his claims were fraudulent.

He said he was desperate to keep on the property ladder and realised what he had done was dishonest.

"He received £53,364 between May 1995 and December 2005. All money he was not entitled to."

Martin Mitten, defending, said Doherty was working full-time but suffered from significant health problems.

Magistrates ruled the case was so serious their powers of punishment were insufficient and sent Doherty to Lewes Crown Court for sentence.

coherty will appear at the crown court at a later date.

He was released on bail on condition he surrenders his passport.