A nurse on sick leave from the NHS has been given a suspended sentence for providing duplicated prescription forms while giving private cosmetic beauty treatments.

Nicola Bevan, 43, was caught when she advertised her clinic on Facebook while claiming £11,000 in sick pay.

A court heard the community health nurse with 11 years experience, advertised herself as a technician offering facial treatments and botox at "Youthful You" clinic.

Her private treatments included collagen facelift for £50, anti-wrinkle injection for £120, lip augmentation for £200 and fat freezing for £250.

Carl Harrison, prosecuting, said: ""She was on sick leave, citing stress. But during this period, Bevan undertook cosmetic work."

When quizzed by managers at the health board, Bevan repeatedly denied working at Youthful You in Pencoed, near Bridgend, South Wales.

But in July, 2017 an NHS fraud investigation was launched after evidence was seen on Facebook that she was providing botox treatments.

In total, Bevan claimed £11,211 from the NHS which has since been paid back.

Bevan was convicted for providing false information in order to collect prescriptions for her patients.

Mr Harrison said: "Bevan committed this fraud on two pharmacists using forms purported to be genuine prescriptions.

"They were in fact duplicates of prescriptions that had already been dispensed.

"The use of duplicate prescriptions circumvents the need to take details from customers ahead of providing them with botox."

One pharmacist said this caused "potentially serious medical implications" while another said Bevan "abused her trust".

Cardiff Crown Court heard Bevan fraudulently took a total of 33 prescriptions from the two pharmacies.

Mother-of-one Bevan admitted fraud and dishonesty failing to disclose information to make a personal gain.

Recorder of Cardiff Eleri Rees said: "Considering your years working as a community health nurse it is frankly outstanding that you managed to lose your way and lose your judgement.

"You lied to your employers and then had disregard for the most fundamental part of your role as a nurse - the health and safety of your customers."

Bevan, of Pencoed, south Wales was jailed for 15 months, suspended for 18 months.

She was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and to pay over £3,000 in costs.