A former charity chief executive has been given a suspended prison sentence for stealing more than £25,000 from the organisation.

Louise McGrath, 49, of Pontypridd, Wales, stole the money from the Wales Council for Deaf People between January 2019 and August 2022 by taking out loans in the charity’s name.

The charity promotes activities that benefit people with hearing disabilities.

McGrath, who worked for the charity for 10 years, appeared at Merthyr Crown Court for sentencing on 15 October after pleading guilty an an earlier hearing to one charge of fraud by false representation.

Merthyr Crown Court confirmed McGrath took out loans of £6,000 in 2019 and 2021 and one of just under £9,000 in 2020.

McGrath also made payments of £3,700 to a previous customer of the charity and then transferred the money to her own account.

The total loss to the charity was £25,164 and McGrath was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years.