A WOMAN who was ordered to return thousands of pounds she swindled from employers attempted to fool the courts by providing false documents.

Gillian Hooper was branded a "totally dishonest woman" at Swansea Crown Court, as she and her husband Charles each admitted a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The 52-year-old was told she had only escaped a prison term because her 55-year-old husband, who suffers from "severe mental illness", relied so much upon her.

Broken

In mitigation, Ian Wright said of Charles Hooper: "I have seldom encountered anyone who appears so broken."

The court was told Gillian Hooper had already served 22 months in prison, after being jailed in 2006 for theft and deception. She had been sentenced after transferring money while an employee of the Family Housing Association on Walter Road, some of which was spent on time share holidays.

She had dishonestly acquired goods from B&Q by ordering goods under the company name, which she then used for her own personal use.

And between March and September 2005, she had created ghost employees while working at Pontrilas Packaging in Llangennech, and paid up to £26,000 into her own bank account.

After being released from prison in May 2008, she appeared before magistrates for a means inquiry, into how she would meet a confiscation order which had left her facing a bill of up to £58,000.

The couple, originally of Alexandra Road, Gorseinon, had sold their home to meet the debt, but the documentation supplied to the court outlining their financial situation came under suspicion, leading to their court appearance.

In the dock, Charles Hooper clung to his wife, and at one point appeared to be gagging into a tissue.

Mitigating, Ian Wright said: "If his [Charles's] wife retains her liberty today it would be of benefit for him. His doctor diagnosed severe mental illness, and he has made two suicide attempts. She supervises his medication and looks after him physically."

Dishonest

His Honour Paul Thomas QC handed Gillian Hooper a 12 month sentence, suspended for two years, and Charles Hooper eight months, suspended for a year.

He said: "You are in my view a totally dishonest woman. You deliberately lied and provided false documents to the court.

"I have little doubt your husband's pitiful condition has been made worse by the stress you have created by your actions."

nino.williams@swwmedia.co.uk