A LYNEHAM pensioner who claimed nearly £16,000 of pounds in benefits he was not entitled to could be jailed.

Robert Bourne, 66, pocketed pension credit, housing benefit, and council tax benefit despite being in work and having more than £10,000 in savings.

Bourne, of Ash Close, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court.

He admitted claiming pension credits from the Department of Work and Pensions between September 2008 and August last year.

And during the same period he also claimed housing and council tax benefits from Wiltshire Council.

Philip Warren, prosecuting, said that between March 2009 and June last year he received £15,725.2p which he was not entitled to.

He said it was not clear whether he would have been entitled to any payments from the council had he correctly declared his income and savings.

Mr Warren told the court that he would ensure the details were established before sentence was passed.

Judge Douglas Field adjourned the case until Friday, August 15, so the probation service can compile a report and released him on bail.

He said: "The fact I am granting you bail should not be taken as any indication of the final outcome of your case."