A 42-year-old Melksham man claimed incapacity benefit for more than five years even though he was working most of that time.

Lascall Allison thought as he was suffering from depression he was entitled to the money even though he was earning a wage.

Now he faces the prospect of a possible prison term after admitting two counts of making a false statement to obtain benefit and asking for a further 265 matters to be taken into consideration.

Swindon crown court heard Allison first signed on for the benefit in the autumn of 1996 when he was working for Dyson.

Peter Codner, defending, said: "The charges are samples for when he went to the post office and signed a form to get incapacity benefit of about £60 a week.

"On that form it says 'I am entitled to benefit and I have told the relative department of anything that may change my benefit'.

"Mr Allison says he honestly didn't think he was doing anything wrong. He suffers from depression and is still, ironically, getting the same benefit as a result.

"He thought he was getting the money because he was depressed and he did not read the forms before he signed them."

Mr Codner said his client didn't realise he was doing anything wrong.

Allison, of Littlejohn Avenue, Melksham, pleaded guilty to two counts of making false representations to get benefits. He asked for a further 265 matters to be taken into consideration. The offences date from November 1996 to December 2001. The case was adjourned for five weeks.