A PONTYPOOL woman who stole more than £170,000 from her employers to buy “lavish gifts” for her family was jailed.

Rachael Pugh, 39, of Picton Street, Griffithstown, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to stealing £170,489.71 from Abertillery-based Toucan Systems Ltd between December 2007 and July 2010.

The court heard Pugh, formerly of Blaina, started working at the computer software firm as an assistant to its operational director in 2002, and took over the director's responsibilities when she left in 2006.

Pugh became head of human resources and purchases on a salary of £29,000 a year, with a role that involved dealing with suppliers, company accounts and payments to all the company’s employees.

Prosecutor Steve Harmes said that in September 2010, company bosses called Pugh in for a meeting after noticing discrepancies between stock levels and the amount of money in their accounts, as well as payments to suppliers who the firm did not have business with.

Pugh admitted she had created fictional suppliers to make payments from company accounts into three of her own.

Mr Harmes said it was an “unsophisticated” crime, but one that would have had a significant effect on a small business like Toucan Systems Ltd.

He added Pugh had two other theft convictions in the last 10 years after stealing £3,000 and £7,000 from previous employers Around £152,000 was transferred into one personal account, more than £7,500 into a second, and in excess of £10,500 into a third.

Pugh's counsel, Claire Pickthall said Pugh’s actions were “not born out of greed”, but out of a desire to gain the approval and love of those around her.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said Pugh spent the cash on “lavish gifts” for her family, family holidays, furnishings for her sister's house, and repairs to her own home.

Sentencing her to 30 months in prison, Judge Rowlands said she breached a high degree of trust.

He said: “You were being paid a salary of £29,000. There was absolutely no need to steal.”

Pugh will appear before a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing on July 8.