Sign On: Apprentice Stella English joins dole queue after losing court battle with Lord Sugar

Lord Alan Sugar and Stella English, the winner of the Apprentice 2010-1744705

After claiming that she had no job, was on the verge of losing her home and was down to her last few pounds, it would appear that former Apprentice winner Stella English is now joining the dole queue.

The 34-year-old, who lost a costly legal battle with her former employer Lord Alan Sugar, was spotted walking into the  Job Centre in Sittingbourne, Kent  after saying that the ‘Fight with Lord Sugar had wrecked her life’ leaving her with just £90 in the bank, her marriage  over and unable to work because of the damage to her reputation.

At the original employment tribunal, Lord Sugar claimed Miss English knowingly lied when she said the £100,000-a-year job at his firm, which she won through the BBC programme in 2010, was a sham.

At a hearing it was revealed the businesswoman and mother-of-two is attempting to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) which pays out  £56.80 a week to the unemployed while they look for work – the amount of benefits they receive after that depends on their circumstances; such as National Insurance Payments and their age.

To claim JSA, English would have to be immediately able to work and actively seeking a new position and would also have to attend a JSA interview to discuss her circumstances.

When she resigned from working for Lord Sugar’s company she claimed she was making double the £100,000 salary she was receiving from him from her new business ventures, including a fashion label and an events company.

But at the hearing this week it emerged that Miss English has not worked since July. English claimed  that she worked at Citigroup until July, earning £500 a day, but her contract with the banking giant had ended.

She is also facing the prospect of having one of her homes repossessed and has seen her marriage collapse as a result of the stress of the original case.

Miss English told the tribunal that she now only has around £200 in her bank account and was unable to even afford a birthday present for her son.

However it was revealed afterwards that the businesswoman has a property portfolio worth £1million and pays a firm up to £1,000 a week to manage her public relations.

Ms English says her life has taken a downward spiral since she landed a £100,000 job with Lord Sugar when she won the 2010 BBC series.

Before the competition, she worked as a £80,000-a-year bank trader, enjoyed a luxury lifestyle with £600 meals of lobster and caviar, £300 designer shoes and three homes reportedly worth £1million.

In September she claimed she has been abused by strangers, spat at and is so broke she rides a bicycle after driving a Porsche and Bentley, in an interview with the Sunday People.

She said her two-year marriage broke up because of the strain of the court case when tycoon Lord Sugar sued her to recover his legal costs of £35,000.

English claimed that she was “being treated like a criminal. I can’t work, I’ve been called awful things, my marriage has broken down. I’m on my knees.”