A TOOTHILL man faces jail after cheating the state out of more than £33,000.

Royston Major claimed incapacity benefit to which he was not entitled for almost nine years.

The 59-year-old pleaded guilty to a series of offences at Swindon Crown Court.

Major, of Luddesdown Road, Toothill, admitted four counts of false accounting from September 1994 to September 1995.

He also admitted four counts of dishonestly making a false representation to obtain benefits from July 2002 to June 2003.

The court was told that the charges were specimens covering the entire period from the first to the last date.

Alan Fuller, prosecuting, said he was considering laying additional charges to cover the time from 1995 to 2002.

He said: "This indictment reflects the whole period from 1994 to 2003 covering total benefit in the region of £33,500.

"If any issue were taken in relation to the period 1995 to 2002 offences could be considered at sentencing. These offences represent specimens which cover the period of offending."

Mr Fuller said the Crown was also seeking to proceed under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover the money.

Mark Ruffell, defending, said: "The defendant accepts these are specimens representing the totality."

He said Major had already paid back about £1,000 of the cash and asked for the case to be adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

Major was released on bail and the case was adjourned to May 20 when he is to be sentenced.

Tamash Lal