A PUB landlord jailed for defrauding the council out of £250,000 has been told to pay back a fraction in compensation.

John Bristow was sentenced to two years imprisonment in March for illegally subletting his Penhill council house, costing taxpayers an estimated £220,000 in lost rent and the cost of finding other accommodation for families.

Now, Judge Peter Crabtree has ordered 67-year-old, who ran The Bakers Arms on Beechcroft Road, to pay £4,688.29 in compensation to Swindon Borough Council, which brought the case against Bristow.

Reacting to the result, Coun Cathy Martyn, cabinet member for housing and public safety, said: “I hope Mr Bristow’s sentencing and our subsequent application to recover costs and compensation sends a warning to anyone who may be tempted to defraud the council in this way.

“The property Mr Bristow sub-let could have been used by someone else in genuine need of housing and I am pleased that after a long investigation we managed to uncover his web of lies which cost the Council a considerable sum of money.

“I would encourage anyone who suspects that a council property is being sub-let or misused to contact our fraud team on 01793 464690 or email reportfraud@swindon.gov.uk.

"Suspected fraud can also be reported online on the corporate fraud page of the council’s website.”