A council worker in Medway has been prosecuted after making up false identities to avoid paying council tax.

?Edwina Wood - who gave council tax and benefit advice to the public - emailed her employer three times using false names, saying they were now responsible for paying council tax at the property.

?After the fraud was discovered, Ms Wood was dismissed from the council, and a criminal case against her was launched. She and her partner, Paul Roberts, pleaded guilty to dishonestly avoiding paying council tax and will be sentenced later today.

?Cllr Andrew Mackness, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for corporate services, said: ‘Wood’s actions were made all the more despicable by the fact that she worked for the very authority she was trying to rip-off.

?‘We will always actively investigate fraud, including by employees, and will use every power available to protect public funds and punish those who knowingly obtain money, goods or services to which they are not entitled.’