A MAN who left his home in Blackpool because of problems with his neighbours neglected to reveal he still owned the property when he claimed housing and council tax benefits in Blackburn, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that William Paul Derbyshire, 51, was receiving £100 a week rent from the house in Woodland Grove over a three-year period during which he claimed nearly £10,000 in benefits.

Derbyshire, of Heatley Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to four charges of making a false statement to obtain benefit. He was bailed for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Sajeda Khalifa, prosecuting said the first benefits claim form was submitted in April 2000. It included a specific question about property ownership and Derbyshire had said he did not own any other property. The denial was included in two other claim renewal forms and a fresh claim in 2003 when he revealed he had started work and his wife was in receipt of disability living allowance.

A Land Registry document showed that Derbyshire and his wife had owned the house since 1992 and the tenant, Michelle Etherington, confirmed she had been renting the house since 1998.

Richard Prew, defending, said Derbyshire naively believed that because the rent simply covered the mortgage he did not need to declare it as income.

"He now appreciates there was a capital value to the property and benefits would have been reduced or not paid at all," said Mr Prew.

He said Derbyshire had come to an agreement with the council for repayment.