PENSIONER Antonio Ciriello could face a prison term for cheating the state out of thousands of pounds in benefits.

The 68-year-old, of Ashwood Road, Corsham, pleaded guilty at Swindon Crown Court on Friday to seven counts of making false statements on forms to get council tax and housing benefit. He asked for a further 128 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

The charges cover a seven year period from June 1994 to June 2001 when he failed to declare that he had capital.

The case was adjourned, awaiting a pre-sentence report and a medical report, and Ciriello was released on bail.