A full public apology has been given by council chiefs after they admitting failing to help a battered homeless mum.

Medway Council has been ordered by the Local Government Ombudsmen to pay the woman – only identified as Miss James – £500 in compensation.

She will also be reinstated on the housing register.

The complaints body said the Council probably repeatedly broke the law over the way homeless applications had been handled for at least five years.

It also criticised the delay in introducing changes to its allocations system last month.

“It raises questions about the legality of those allocations and means the council has been in breach of its statutory duties,” the report concluded.

“It seems unlikely the (house allocations bandings) have been applied consistently.

“This raises the distinct possibility that people have not been treated equitably.

“But who – or even how many – it is not possible to say.”

The apology came from the housing portfolio holder, Cllr Howard Doe (Con).

He said: “I was not responsible at the time, but I regret this happened, It should have been better handled.

“I don’t defend what happened, I really regret the whole episode and I say this with particular regret to the person who suffered.”

But he warned: “There is always going to be the odd case which could have been handled better.”

The council has made numerous changes to the way it handles homelessness, records all calls, and has given all housing staff detailed training.

Cllr Paul Harriott (Lab), a former housing committee chairman, told Thursday’s full council meeting that the case may not be the last to come to light. “This is only one example,” said Cllr Harriott. “There may be others coming through the pipeline.”

Cllr Ian Burt (Ind) said: “The lack of compassion and inconsistency is very worrying.

“This 'caring authority’ was not caring.”