An admin assistant who stole £25,000 from the school she worked in order to fund her £500-a-week cocaine habit only has to repay £1, a judge has ruled.
Nia Wyn O'Sullivan was entrusted with the "day-to-day" financial running of Ysgol Gymraeg Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen in Neath Port Talbot for six years, including handling cash and paying bills.
While performing the role, which involved her collecting dinner money from pupils and parents, collecting cash from ticket sales for concerts, and paying bills, ordering stationery, and organising trips, she helped herself to £25,463.92 over the course of a year, most of which "went up her nose".
The 39-year-old, of Brynsiriol, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, was sentenced to eight months in prison on March 8 .
Police discover £100,000 of cocaine after random stop and search of car
On Wednesday a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing took place in her absence at Swansea Crown Court where her solicitor, James Hartson, told the court: "In her police interview she admitted the majority of money stolen from her employer was used to support a cocaine habit.
"The money has entirely dissipated and she had no assets."
Judge Paul Thomas therefore ordered O'Sullivan to pay a nominal £1 fee at the conclusion of the five-minute hearing.
Drug dealer who made £11,000 in three months posed with piles of cash
Previous stages of the case heard how O'Sullivan originally turned to cocaine after developing post-natal depression.
Throughout much of 2017 O'Sullivan was pocketing a high proportion of the cash that was being paid into the school by pupils and parents and would move money between the two accounts she operated to hide the missing sums.
On two occasions she also forged the signatures of the school's head teacher and deputy head on cheques made payable to herself.
In January 2018 "irregularities" in the school accounts were spotted and she was suspended.
