A FORMER council housing officer has been jailed after being caught illegally subletting a council property.

Izein Emmanuel Atafo, 48, of Lovell Road, Southall, was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison at Reading Crown Court on Friday (14).

The former Slough Borough Council worker had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by abuse of position and a charge of making or supplying an article for use in fraud.

An investigation was launched by the council after a tip-off that a council flat in Paget Road, Langley was being sublet illegally.

During the investigation it was found that Atafo, a housing officer, had been giving the keys to the property to third parties with the intention that they sublet the property to tenants without the council's knowledge or permission, and had been receiving payments from a local lettings agent who had placed tenants in the flat.

Jon Moores, the council's housing fraud investigator, said: "This case shows that no matter who you are, if you are committing housing fraud, we are determined to deal with it.

"I hope the sentence in this case, warns others of the severe penalties if they get caught committing fraud." Atafo was suspended from his role following his arrest and was dismissed by the council in February, after his guilty plea.

Sohail Munawar, commissioner for social and economic inclusion, added: "The large number of people on our housing waiting list is well known and we need all our council properties in circulation to help people most in housing need.

"Mr Atafo decided to bypass this system and take money from a local lettings agency so their clients could, basically, jump the housing queue." He added: "Housing fraud is never acceptable, but this case was made worse by it being a council officer who abused his position, and the trust placed in him, for his own financial gain.

"Thankfully the incidents like this by staff are rare but we continue to be vigilant."