A former council worker who falsely claimed thousands in sick pay while also working other jobs has been ordered to pay the money back.

Zenab Salami was carrying out work for other local authorities in London while still employed full time and claiming sick leave and a car allowance with Medway Council.

Suspicions were raised when the 39-year-old started work at the London Borough of Islington through an agency and was found to also be employed at the London Borough of Brent.

In June 2022, Islington Borough Council checked the dates which Salami had begun working at Brent and noticed the overlap with Medway Council and alerted them.

The Kent-based authority then launched an investigation and found Ms Salami had commenced an agency role at Brent on January 10 2022, four days after going on sick-leave at Medway Council.

She continued to be employed by Medway Council as a team leader in the family solutions department until April 4 2022.

Salami, of South View Road, Grays, Essex appeared before Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on July 26 having pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to disclose information she was under a legal duty to at a previous appearance at Medway Magistrates' Court.

Her role as a team leader was considered as an aggravating factor for sentencing, due to it being a position of trust.

She was sentenced to a six months community order and ordered to repay the £8,631.60 she received in wages for the three months she was still employed full time at Medway Council and the cost of the investigation.

Salami was also ordered to pay £250 in legal costs, and will have to complete 10 sessions of rehabilitation activities.

Cllr Zoe Van Dyke (Lab), portfolio holder for business management, said: “The council’s finances are under tremendous strain and the actions of some individuals who seek to make a gain for themselves at the expense of the public purse only serve to endanger the delivery of vital public services.

“This deliberate and calculated fraudulent activity is a despicable crime and it is thanks to the due diligence of another local authority, and the dedication of our counter fraud team who investigated this case, that the matter has been brought to an appropriate conclusion with the perpetrator punished for her crimes.

“The council will always seek to prevent and detect fraud of any form and we would encourage anyone to report their concerns to our counter fraud team.”

The council says if anyone is aware of someone committing fraud against the council, for example in relation to false discounts or exemptions for their council tax, sub-letting of council owned housing, or false claims for financial assistance of any kind, they should report it on 01634 332233, or submit an online report via its website.