A Portslade couple have been jailed for nine months in Barbados after falsely claiming gunmen raided their home and stole £10 million of possessions.

Edward Denney, 41, and Tululla Salvatori, 27, who gave their address in court as Station Road, Polegate, told police they were raided by armed robbers.

According to reports in the Caribbean, the pair told police two armed robbers assaulted them before stealing a gold Rolex, a platinum necklace, an engagement ring and a Cartier watch worth more than £5 million.

But their lies unravelled and now the pair have been jailed on the paradise island.

Denney, who is listed on Facebook as a former City College Brighton and Hove student, and Salvatori were imprisoned at the end of last week.

The couple are understood to be renting the apartment in Barbados but gave their permanent address as Station Road in Polgate, near Eastbourne.

A police statement said: “Edward Denney and Tululla Salvatori, British nationals staying at Sandy Lane, St James, were arrested and charged with causing wasteful employment of the police by knowingly making a false report tending to show that an offence had been committed namely, aggravated burglary.

“The two reported to the police that their residence was burgled and property to a value of over Bds $22 million was stolen.

“The matter was investigated and the accused recanted their report and as a result were arrested and charged.”

Salvatori was also charged with obtaining services by deception after a cheque to pay for a car rental bounced.

The police statement added: “They both appeared at court on the mentioned charges to which they pleaded guilty.

“On the charges of wasteful employment of police services, each was sentenced to nine months in prison.

“Salvatori was sentenced to nine months to run consecutive to the other sentence for the offence of obtaining services by deception.”

Sandy Lane is one of Barbados’ most famed areas and is where Tiger Woods married his former wife Elin Nordegren.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the arrest of two British nationals on February 12 in Barbados.

“We are providing consular assistance.”