A Cardiff council worker jailed for stealing £35,000 from a children’s fund has been ordered to repay the stolen cash.
But a proceeds of crime hearing found Caroline Wooton-Thomas, 48, did not have enough to repay the whole amount.
Investigations found assets of less than £18,000.
Wooton-Thomas, of Veronica Close, Rogerstone, Newport, appeared at Cardiff Crown Courtfrom Parc Prison on Wednesday.
She was jailed for two and a half years in March after being convicted of plundering the petty cash fund of Cardiff council’s child protection unit for debts, expensive gifts and luxury holidays.
The trial heard she had been put in charge of the petty cash fund which was to be used to cover fuel and parking costs.
She was caught after a bank statement was sent to the wrong department.
Wooton-Thomas denied all wrongdoing and blamed her colleagues for stealing the money.
During the trial Matthew Roberts, prosecuting, said Wooton-Thomas had displayed an “arrogance” which led to her mother being charged with money laundering.
Judge Neil Bidder QC said at the time she was “unscrupulous” and accused her of crying “fake tears.”
At Wednesday’s hearing, he said: “I intend that the recovery unit gets the money, that is what I am intending and that is what I will try and achieve.
“Therefore on the basis of having read section 16 and 17 statements, and on the basis of what has been agreed, I find that the benefit for the defendant is £35,000, and I find that the available amount is £17,525 made up of a tainted gift of £16,200 and a car, which is a Suzuki, and which has a value of £1,325.
“I make a confiscation order in the sum of £17,525. I allow three months to pay.”
He urged the defence to make an application for an extension were it needed.
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