A couple who defrauded thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money have escaped prison.

Linda and Michael Farnes, of Amberley Drive, Hove, were caught claiming benefits while they had jobs between April 2002 and November 2003.

Fraud investigation officers had been tipped off by a member of the public, Brighton Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

The pair were each convicted at a previous hearing of four counts of dishonestly obtaining housing and council tax benefits totalling £3,104.08.

District Judge Ann Arnold told them their offence was "nothing short of a defraud on the public purse".

She said: "The offences are easy to commit and difficult to detect and the court takes a serious view of this."

Mrs Farnes, 40, pleaded guilty and Mr Farnes, 43, denied the charges but was found guilty.

The court heard that Mrs Farnes had been working at Asda in Hollingbury since April 2002.

Len Batten, prosecuting for Brighton and Hove City Council, told the court the pair had signed a declaration in June 2002, July 2003 and November 2003 to say Mr Farnes was working but that Mrs Farnes was not.

He said: "Mrs Farnes said she had only signed the forms and not read them, and that they had been filled in by her husband.

"She admitted working at Asda and at a chip shop."

He said Mr Farnes had been found guilty of fraud at a previous hearing because the court did not believe that he did not know his wife was working at Asda.

Anthony Waller, defending, said Mr Farnes had turned to drinking and gambling when his grandmother and step-father died.

He said: "That put Mrs Farnes in a difficult situation because there were six children living at home at the time.

"There was a rift between her and her husband and she took a night-shift job at Asda to pay the bills and put food on the table.

"She did not tell her husband because she did not want him spending all the money. They were not living as man and wife.

"Their life was unbearable and a mess and they accept that was down to his drinking."

He said the Farnes were no longer estranged.

Mrs Farnes was sentenced to a 100-hour community punishment order and Mr Farnes received a 150-hour order.

They were ordered to pay the money they owed to the council.

Fraud investigator Heath Potter said: "We are grateful to the member of the public who brought this to our attention."

Councillor Simon Burgess said: "The sentence is disappointing. However, the judge made it very clear that if they do not fulfil their punishment to the letter she will not hesitate to send them to prison."