A WOMAN jailed for stealing more than £4,500 from her best friend spoke of her relief as she was freed yesterday after a judge quashed her sentence.

Mother-of-two Heather Elaine Powell, 34, from Howe Circle, Coldra, Newport, walked free from Newport crown court after winning her appeal against sentence.

On Tuesday the former Lloyds TSB worker had been sent to prison for three months by Newport magistrates after pleading guilty to the theft from 41-year-old Kim Lewis.

But Mrs Lewis, said: "What she did to me was disgusting and I don't think it's fair that she's been released."

Judge Michael Burr, who heard her appeal, told her he would "exercise mercy" yesterday as all the money had been repaid. Instead of a prison term, he imposed a sentence of 120 hours of community service on her.

After the hearing, Powell, who had wept in the dock, said: "I feel relief. I'm so very, very grateful. It was hell... horrible to have to leave my family and the children behind.

"But I don't want to take away how sorry I am for everything I have done and what I have put my family through.

"I was stupid, and I am very, very sorry. I just want to go home tonight and be with my children."

Powell said she used the money she stole "to pay the bills."

She lost her job with Lloyds TSB at the end of 2003 but hid the news from her husband.

The family plan to start a new life in Spain. "My husband will be going out to Spain before me but I'll be joining him as soon as I complete my community service."

The court heard that Powell had been given full access to Mrs Lewis' financial affairs when the two were neighbours in Waltwood Road, Underwood.

Mrs Lewis had been going through a divorce and was used to her husband dealing with money.

Powell transferred money from Mrs Lewis' bank account, credit and store cards between September 2003 and May 2004.

Although Judge Michael Burr called Powell "manipulative" and said she had deserved to go to jail, he was "quite exceptionally" not going to send her back to prison. "The clang of the prison gates in the days and weeks following have the greatest impact.

"The shame and suffering you have brought upon your family is particularly difficult for your children. Your duties and responsibilities are with your family."

The court heard how Powell's family had arranged on Thursday for all of the money stolen from Mrs Lewis to be returned to her.

Eifion Williams, prosecuting, said Mrs Lewis, also a mother-of-two, had felt "betrayed" by Powell. Mrs Lewis, he said, now suffered panic attacks and was in a "financial mess."

The deceit only came to light when Powell tried to commit suicide.

Michael Heames, for Powell, said: "This has had a devastating effect on her children who are aged six and eight."