A BUPA dental practice manager who admitted a £60,000 fraud by paying 93 fake refunds into her own bank accounts was spared jail.

Jennifer Locke, 33, of Rhyl Road, Rhuddlan, received a two-year suspended jail term and must do 250 hours unpaid work and obey a six months 9pm-6am curfew.

Judge Nicola Jones at Caernarfon crown court told her: "You are somebody capable of rehabilitation. Your children would suffer if you were imprisoned immediately.”

The judge said she could only order compensation payable within two years. Locke must pay £550 compensation at £25-a-month and a £140 surcharge.

“My hands are tied because I can only impose what can be repaid on her income over a two-year period, I’m afraid,” said Judge Jones.

The judge said Locke had been in a position of trust but her career as a dental nurse was over.

The General Dental Council has imposed an interim suspension.

Judge Jones said it was a “sophisticated” crime. But she took into account her fragile mental health, she cared for three young children “and also, importantly, the theft by you wasn’t to fund a lavish lifestyle, it was to make ends meet when you and your family were in dire financial circumstances.”

Prosecutor Elen Owen said Locke had been employed by BUPA Dental since 2013 and became practice manager in April 2017.

She earned £24,994 when sacked and was responsible for Colwyn Bay and Rhyl dental practices and line manager for 16 members of staff.

Fraudulent transactions at Colwyn Bay were between September 2018 and July 2020.

She had added fake new patients, applied credit notes and refunded them to her own accounts.

Defence barrister Sarah Yates said Locke was now on Universal Credit.

Her husband had been made redundant and she acted out of desperation. There was remorse.