Debt-ridden mum-to-be Christine Buckingham (pictured), 41, spent the cash on shopping trips, eating out, holidays and haircuts.

Brighton Crown Court heard how she collected arrears from tenants on behalf of Wealden District Council but pocketed the money herself.

One tenant was threatened with eviction as a result of the missing payments, causing 'considerable stress and anxiety'.

Buckingham was arrested after the council launched an internal investigation in October 2007, following a dispute over payments from a tenant.

Ruth Field, prosecuting, told the court Buckingham, a former Eastbourne resident, stole from her employer between March 31, 2006, and September 3 last year.

She said, "She worked as a rent arrears officer for the council for seven years and her duty was to collect payments from tenants who were very much behind in their rent.

"She would go to their homes and issue ad hoc receipts on compliment slips but was pocketing the cash.

"On occasions she would pay a lesser sum than that which was seized from various tenants back to the council. On other occasions she would pocket the lot.

"During a search of her flat it was discovered she was quite heavily in debt with final demand notices from bailiffs to the tune of £1,500.

"There was also a large quantity of council paperwork and receipts from tenants who had paid money to the council but in fact had paid money to the defendant.

"Statements obtained from her bank over the last seven years showed various suspicious withdrawals and payments.

"There had been excessive spending and evidence of a lavish lifestyle - shopping trips, eating out, haircuts and holidays.

"It was clear she had tried to continue with this lifestyle on her wages but her income was not enough to sustain it.

"She was a trusted employee and had a high degree of autonomy doing the job on her own."

In interview, Buckingham at first told police she had forgotten about the money paid to her by tenants but admitted the offences after being shown her bank statements.

Buckingham, of Pevensey Road, St Leonards, admitted 11 counts of theft and asked for five similar offences to be taken into account totalling £5,229.

The court heard Buckingham, who is due to give birth next month, has no previous convictions.

The court was also told she had paid back £1,000 and had waived her right to £2,243 owed to her in wages and pension payments.

Rebecca Wood, defending, said, "She accepts she was in a position of trust and breached that. It was not a sophisticated theft.

"It was money taken as and when she needed it to sustain her lifestyle. She was taking money dishonestly but intended to borrow it then pay it back.

"She was embarrassed about seeking help because of the position she was in. The irony is that she was struggling with her own rent arrears."

Recorder Anthony Chinn, QC, gave Buckingham a nine-month jail sentence suspended for two years.

He also ordered her to do 100 hours' unpaid work and pay £1,200 in compensation.

He said, "The people whose money you were stealing from the council were vulnerable. It was a significant sum of money over a long period.
"It's sad to see someone of your age and character in the position you are."

A Wealden District Council spokesman said Buckingham had been sacked from her job following an unrelated disciplinary matter.
He said, "Procedures for collecting payments have since been thoroughly reviewed."