A COUPLE living near South Molton have been warned they could be sent to prison after fraudulently claiming more than £30,000 in benefits.

Roger Carr and his wife, Pamela, claimed £5,580 in council tax relief, £18,165 in housing benefit and £7,970 in income support.

Between them Carr, 60, and his wife, 61, pleaded guilty to two charges of defrauding the Department for Work and Pensions and North Devon Council.

North Devon Magistrates heard the couple, from Victoria Bungalow, Chittlehampton, started claiming benefits in March, 2005. Their last claim was made in June, 2009.

John Annear, for the prosecution, said: "They were both working as self-employed couriers during this time and both knew the other was claiming benefits."

Magistrates heard Mr Carr has been a sheet metal worker but in 2003 started having heart problems, which ended in him having a triple heart bypass. They also heard he now had cirrhosis of the liver.

Mrs Carr had been working part time in Somerfield until she was injured in a serious car crash.

At this point the couple claimed benefits and the claims continued when they began their self-employed courier work.

Payment for this work was up and down and the pair continued claiming. Then work dried up so they each took out a personal bankruptcy order.

The court heard when they were caught the couple, who live in rented accommodation, admitted making the false claims.

Since then the pair had paid back £500 of the money owed and were moving to a cheaper house so they could repay more money.

A reference from their current landlord saying they had been good tenants was also read to the court.

Magistrates adjourned the case for two weeks until August 4 for reports, but warned the size of the fraud and the length of time it went on meant the couple could be sent to prison.