A fraudster who systematically drained the bank account of the not-for-profit firm she worked for in Pembrokesire has been ordered to pay back tens of thousands of pounds of her ill-gotten gains.

Fifty-four-year-old Liza Haines was operations manager of Pembroke-based Sazani Associates - which supports education and sustainable development projects in Europe and Africa - when she abused her position of trust to steal a quarter of a million pounds from its coffers over a five-year period.

She was trusted to run the not-for-profit company's finances but her actions forced the organisation to close offices, cancel projects, and make a number of staff redundant. The firm was also left with a large tax bill.

Last December Haines, of Clos Cilsaig, Dafen, Llanelli, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court to four years in prison after pleading guilty to fraud.

Sending her down, Judge Paul Hobson said the 54-year-old's motivation had been "greed", and said she would have been fully aware of the damage she was causing the organisation.

Following the sentencing, a Proceeds of Crime Act or POCA investigation was launched into Haines' finances.

The case returned to court for a confiscation hearing following the completion of the investigation.

Emily Bennett, prosecuting, told the court that Haines had benefited from her criminal conduct to the tune of £305,893 and investigators had identified some £46,805 in available assets including equity in a property, and half the value of a car.

The barrister invited the court to make a confiscation order in the available sum, and then to make a second order in the same amount to go as compensation to Sazani Associates.

Judge Huw Rees made the requested confiscation and compensation orders, and gave Haines three months to pay the £46,804 or face six months in prison.