THE owner of a Gravesend bar and restaurant has admitted defrauding Gravesham Council to the tune of £57,000.

Anastasia Zinkevich, 35, used credit cards that did not belong to her and without the authorisation of the owner when settling debts with the council in relation to various charges and services.

The owner of the Riva Bar at Town Pier, West Street, left the authority facing a large number of chargebacks by card providers when recalling funds paid fraudulently.

The losses were between June 2011 and December 2012.

The Serious Economic Crime Unit at Kent Police was called in to help with the investigations which included an early morning raid on Zinkevich’s home in Wrotham Road.

At Maidstone Crown Court on September 26 she admitted one charge of fraud and will be sentenced at the same court in the week of October 28.