A former Crystal Palace director arrested following a sting by a national newspaper has been found guilty of misconduct in a public office.

Agnello De Souza, a former asylum officer at Sutton Council, was tried at Croydon Crown Court for two counts of misconduct in a public office, one count of obtaining money by deception and one count of attempting to obtain money by deception.

The jury found him guilty of two counts of misconduct and not guilty for the other charges.

Judge Nicholas Ainley said he faces an almost inevitable jail sentence.

"You were convicted on the most compelling evidence," Judge Ainley said. "Almost invariably, offences of this sort end in prison, and you should prepare yourself for that."

De Souza, 68, of Mulgrave Road, Sutton, was accused of housing a Romanian woman called Antoanela Colda in a flat in Cypress Court, Cheam Road, Sutton, and getting her to pay him £630 a month rent in cash.

At the same time it was alleged Sutton Council were paying rent for the property to the real owner who, along with the local authority, believed it was occupied by an asylum seeker.

De Souza denied receiving a total £3,150 from Mrs Colda and said she paid rent to landlord Nigel Punter and not him.

The former director of Crystal Palace also denied receiving £1,390 from Sun reporter Harry MacAdam when he posed as a a prospective tenant.

Sentencing has been adjourned until May 30 for a report to be prepared by the probation service.