The owner of Travel World in Alice Springs, was handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to swindling the cash from 2010 to 2013.

The Australian agent admitted defrauding a Northern Territory government travel subsidy scheme of $22,505 (£11,711) over the period.

A court in Darwin heard how Russell, 41, had obtained the funds by submitting 108 invoices to the authority’s Pensioner and Carer Travel Concession Scheme which over-stated travel costs that her company had incurred, ABC reports.

She received a three-month suspended term for obtaining a benefit by deception.

Russell’s lawyer, Peter Maley, told the court that the travel consultant had arrived for her sentencing with a cheque to pay back the stolen money.

He also detailed Russell’s involvement with charitable causes in Alice Springs and said he believed she had taken responsibility for invoices that were not created by her because she was the owner of the business.

"After being charged and examining the material, she took complete responsibility," he said.