A FORMER immigration officer and another tenant who made thousands of pounds by illegally subletting their council houses for years will have to carry out hundreds of hours of unpaid work for their crimes.

Jacqueline Lewin-Mckibben, 53, of Abbotsbury Close, Saltdean, pretended she was living at a Brighton property with her son but in fact let it out for £450 a month over three years. The council started investigating after getting a tip-off about the property Kingswood Flats - where she was supposedly living.

The Home Office employee, who later resigned from her post, pleaded guilty in June to one count of unlawfully subletting a council property under the Fraud Act 2006.

George Keates, 28, also pleaded guilty to unlawfully subletting a council property in Brighton, contrary to the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013. He made an estimated £15,244 over the two years he unlawfully sublet the property in Kestrel Court, Swanborough Place, Brighton.

They were both fined £260 each in victim surcharge. Keates, now of Coventry, has to complete 280 hours of unpaid work and Lewin-McKibben has to complete 240 hours. She also has to attend three sessions on the Inspire course, run by the Women’s Centre in Brighton.

Councillor Anne Meadows, chairman of housing and new homes for Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “It is shameful that this illegal practice persists at a time of such austerity and increasing homelessness. There are more than 20,000 people on our council house waiting list, and yet these two have no qualms in denying others a much needed home for the sake of greed.”

Is it not yet clear if more money will be recovered and re-paid to the council.

Coun Meadows added: "The main priority for us as a council is to free up a home for one of the thousands of people waiting for a council property.  The council has to take into consideration, in certain cases, the lack of available assets and ability to repay, which is the case here.”