A FOOTBALLER'S wife is facing jail after she falsely claimed thousands of pounds in benefits.

Kathryn Ibbetson, 34, drew the benefits between November and June last year despite being married to former Darlington and Torquay United midfielder Brian Healy.

The court heard that, at the time of the offences, she had more than £200,000 passing through her bank accounts.

The couple married in June 1999 and Healy - who most recently played for Bishop Auckland, Shildon and Billingham Synthonia - is the father of their four children, including two-year-old twins.

They spent much time apart because she lived on Teesside, said Shaun Dodds, prosecuting for the Department of Work and Pensions.

Her barrister, Christopher Baker, told Teesside Crown Court: "She certainly does not live with him at this present point, and there is no financial or paternal support at this present time."

Yesterday, a judge urged the freezing of £10,000 in her bank accounts so that she could pay back the stolen cash.

Ibbetson, of Diamond Road, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to four charges of making dishonest representations to obtain £7,478 benefits by failing to declare that she was married and living with her husband, Brian Healy. She asked for another 37 offences to be taken into consideration involving £4,831, and the total sum involved was £12,309.

Mr Dodds said: "This is a case where the Crown have given notice of a lifestyle investigation now under the Proceeds of Crime Act."

Judge John Walford told her: "It seems to me that this being a financial fraud, the background against which it was committed must include the outcome of a financial settlement.

"You should recognise that, whatever the outcome of the financial investigation, the offences to which you have pleaded guilty are serious offences and will be bound to attract consideration of a custodial sentence."

Ibbetson was remanded on bail for a pre-sentence report to be compiled, and she will be sentenced in the New Year.