A Crumlin woman who was mistakenly paid two salaries for her work with the NHS has avoided a jail sentence.
Ann Barnes, 47, was handed a five-month suspended sentence with 80 hours community work after admitting theft.
Cardiff Crown Court was told on Wednesday how Barnes, a part-time call handler for an out-of-hours GP service, stole £13,326 from Aneurin Bevan Health Board.
She was getting paid her salary twice due to an admin error after a promotion in 2009.
Instead of being paid £19,954 over two years for a 16.5 hour working week, Barnes was paid a total of £33,000.
Mother-of-two Barnes admitted the theft after boasting how she had bought a hot tub and a new house extension. Bosses got suspicious and then found the pay error.
She has since paid the money back in full.
Aneurin Bevan Health Board has been asked to comment.
OK so temptation got the better of this dishonest lady but what about the real villain whose gross negligence and incompetence caused this in the first place? How many more similar cock ups have been made in this, typical NHS, inefficient department?