A NURSING home worker who fiddled his benefits was warned yesterday that he could be jailed.

Donald Caunt, 62, pleaded guilty at Harrogate to two offences of deception and two of using a false instrument.

The hearing was adjourned until September 19 so probation reports can be prepared.

Court chairman Mary Tennant told Caunt, of Dragon Avenue, Harrogate, that all sentencing options would be open to the Bench on that day, including imprisonment.

Peter Scott, prosecuting, said Caunt had claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit from Harrogate Borough Council since 1997.

But for more than a year he failed to declare he was working, first part-time and later full-time, for a company called Amocura Ltd, which runs nursing homes.

Mr Scott said police were called in after Amocura's accountant advised the council that Caunt had been completing his own certificates of earnings and understating his true income.

Caunt's claims had resulted in him being paid housing benefit of £650.07 and council tax benefit of £25.68 to which he was not entitled.