A lying woman is facing jail for claiming her husband had died in the Grenfell Tower fire - before backtracking and saying he was living in a cave in Margate.

Joyce Msokeri, 47, said she had escaped the inferno but that her husband and sister-in-law had burnt to death on June 14.

She was put up in the Hilton hotel in Kensington, west London, where some survivors were given shelter, and defrauded the council out of money.

The Grenfell Tower in flames. Picture: @Natalie_Oxford

Msokeri, who actually lived in Sutton, south London, also accepted food, clothing, footwear and electronic equipment - totalling about £19,000.

When the net was closing in on her lies, Msokeri told investigators she subsequently discovered her husband had survived and had been living in a cave in Margate, where he was fed by tourists.

She was found guilty of three counts of fraud and one count of possession of an ID document with improper intention at Southwark Crown Court today.

Msokeri provided police with a 'very detailed' account of how her husband had gone to help his sister who was staying on another floor within the tower.

She claimed that he had given her a wet towel to shield her face and directed her to leave the building and get to safety.

Joyce-Msokeri. Picture: Met Police.

But police discovered inconsistencies in her story and telephone records showed that she could not have been in or near the Grenfell Tower at the time of the fire.

They discovered she was single and had made the story up and was arrested.

DC Ismail Mattar, the investigating officer, said: "Msokeri's actions in the aftermath of this horrific event are inexcusable.

"She claimed falsely that she had lost relatives to make sure she profited from the support intended for the true victims of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire.

"She went to great lengths to fabricate an elaborate story about her escape from the tower."

"People lost their homes, all their possessions, and tragically their families and loved ones. It is terrible that this individual should try to profit from the pain of others" - Det Ch Supt Matt Bonner

Detective Chief Superintendent Matt Bonner said: "The distress and suffering caused to so many that night in June is harrowing.

"People lost their homes, all their possessions, and tragically their families and loved ones. It is terrible that this individual should try to profit from the pain of others.

"Not only did Msokeri take money, housing and clothing intended for genuine victims, she diverted police resources away from those who most needed it.

"We will continue to use all our powers to investigate anyone who we think is fraudulently profiting from the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower."

Msokeri was also slammed by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Kate Mulholland for the CPS said: "Joyce Msokeri gave a variety of different stories to try to dishonestly profit from the aid meant for the real victims of this tragedy.

"She tried to persuade others to give information which might back up her evolving lies but in the end she was unable to keep up all the pretence.

"Msokeri will now have to accept the consequences of her dishonesty, which saw money diverted from the true survivors of the Grenfell fire.

"They, like everyone else, will no doubt be appalled at her actions."

The CPS will also apply for the money and items already seized to be permanently stripped from Msokeri and donated back to charity.