A former Kingswear landlord whose pub served £125 champagne and truffle beefburgers is facing jail after being found guilty of dishonestly obtaining more than £31,000.

Stephen Sussams, who now lives at Marston Way, Norbury, Croydon, was the landlord of the Royal Dart Hotel at the time.

He was found guilty of theft, dishonestly making a false statement or representation and three counts of fraud by failing to disclose information. The 59-year-old pocketed £17,600 in care fees mistakenly paid into a dead man's bank account, which Sussams had access to, as he had been the deceased's carer.

He cheated the council at Croydon out of more than £14,000 in housing and council tax benefit after not revealing he was living with his civil partner.

Sussams also failed to tell the council he ran the Royal Dart Hotel, which Croydon Crown Court was told sold the most expensive burgers in the world.

Sussams was unmasked as a benefits cheat just over a year ago in a Panorama investigation while he was still running the Royal Dart Hotel.

He disappeared from the troubled Kingswear business soon after the investigative TV programme was broadcast.

Two landlords later, the pub is currently closed and the building – which includes a complex of flats – is up for sale with an asking price of £1m.

In his defence, Sussams claimed he thought the care payments were pension money and that he had found it difficult filling in the benefit claim forms.

He also said he didn't try to conceal his business interests.

The council is to launch confiscation proceedings against Sussams, which will examine his assets to see what he gained as a result of his criminal activity.

Sussams, who was remanded in custody, will be sentenced on January 11.

Following the jury's verdict, Cllr Dudley Mead, deputy leader of the council, said: 'This has been a complex case and the result reflects the hard work and determined efforts of the council's fraud investigators.

'Croydon residents can be assured that benefit cheats and fraudsters who illegally claim taxpayers' money will be brought to justice.'