A couple who hid their relationship from officials to falsely claim £113,000 in benefits have been jailed for almost three years.

Christine Paulizky, 54, and Keith Lingham, 52, rather than a couple while living in Bexhill, East Sussex.

Lewes Crown Court heard the pair managed to swindle council tax and housing benefits for seven years.

The Ridings in Bexhill, East Sussex where Christine Paulizky and Keith Lingham were living and falsely claimed £113,000 in benefits. The pair pretended to be landlord and tenant rather than a couple in seven year swindle

Paulizky started living with Lingham at a bungalow in the town in November 2001, where he used a false name to get a joint tenancy agreement.

The 54-year-old’s name was the only one on the document sent to the council to claim benefits.

In June 2004, Lingham bought the property and created a false tenancy agreement where he claimed Paulizky was his tenant paying £650 a month in rent.

Their scam meant Paulizky fraudulently received £46,730 in housing benefit and £7,115.88 in council tax benefit.

Councillor Robin Patten, cabinet member for finance at Rother District Council, said their fraud was 'elaborate and long-running'.

He said: ‘Benefits are intended as a safety net to help those in real need.

They appeared at Lewes Crown Court where Paulizky was given 15 month sentence and Lingham 18 months

‘Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime and at a time when many people are having to tighten their belts, the taxpayer ultimately has to foot the bill.’

The pair were convicted following a trial in May and jailed on Thursday after an investigation by Rother District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Paulizky, of Bexhill, was convicted of five offences under the Social Security Administration Act and five under the Theft Act and jailed for 15 months.

Lingham, now of Charlton, South London, was also found guilty under the Theft Act of two counts of aiding and abetting and given an 18 month sentence.