A former Apprentice winner from Kent has been spotted at a county Job Centre after claiming at a tribunal she was on the brink of poverty.

Stella English, who lives in Whitstable, was photographed walking into the Sittingbourne centre before leaving with forms.

The 34-year-old claimed she was on the verge of losing her home during a legal battle with her former employer Lord Sugar.

She lost her constructive dismissal case against the tycoon earlier this year.

But Lord Sugar launched a bid against Ms English for up to £35,000 in legal costs because he claimed she deliberately tried to damage his reputation.

His lawyers went back to the Stratford Employment Tribunal, in east London, in a bid to recover Lord Sugar's legal fees.

They claimed Ms English only instigated the legal proceedings because she was "bored".

But the panel ruled she should not have to repay any of the money, saying Miss English "truly believed she had a case".

Ms English had earlier revealed to the hearing she has fallen into poverty, with just £200 in the bank, and is trying to claim benefits.

Now it appears the mother-of-two might have taken the step of signing on at the Sittingbourne Job Centre, in Roman Square.

She appeared ashen-faced as she held paperwork from the centre, wearing a red dress and high heels.

Ms English told a friend on Twitter today: "It's been a tough time but I feel stronger and more blessed every single day."

At her tribunal in April, she claimed she was an "overpaid lackey" in a £100,000-a-year job after winning reality show The Apprentice in 2010.

She said she was forced to quit her role after colleagues shunned her because she had won the role through the BBC1 series.

But her case was dismissed in what Lord Sugar described as a victory against "ambulance-chasing lawyers".

The businessman told the employment tribunal Ms English was effectively blackmailing him and was trying to damage his reputation and that of the BBC.

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Ms English has now set up the English Events Company.

Last month, she was forced to find new acts for her first major entertainment event in Kent after artists dropped out because of poor ticket sales.

She arranged an evening of live music at Whitstable Castle, which had been due to feature chart soul artist Dionne Bromfield, soprano Natalie Coyle and jazz singer Xara Vaughan.

But the firm announced a late change to the billing, with tribute acts Rachel Stone and Darren - who perform as Amy Winehouse and Robbie Williams - booked at three days' notice after the artists withdrew.