Nia O'Sullivan, 39, pictured, who was jailed for stealing £25,000 from the primary school she worked at, has been ordered to repay just £1 of her ill-gotten gains

A secretary who stole £25,000 from the school she worked at to fund a £500-a-week cocaine habit has been ordered to repay just £1.

Nia O'Sullivan, 39, handled the day-to-day finances of Ysgol Gymraeg Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Primary School in Neath Port Talbot, south Wales, for six years, including handling cash and paying bills.

But Swansea Crown Court heard she began helping herself to large amounts of cash during 2017 and the prosecution said most 'went up her nose'.

Her role included collecting money from ticket sales for school concerts and dinner money and also paying bills for school trips as well as stationary and equipment.

O'Sullivan, of Brynsiriol, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, was jailed for eight months at the court last month.

A proceeds of crime hearing took place yesterday where a judge heard she had no assets.

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 ordered O'Sullivan to pay a nominal £1 fee at the conclusion of the five-minute hearing.

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.

O'Sullivan was responsible for finances at Ysgol Gymraeg Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Primary School in Neath Port Talbot, south Wales, pictured