A woman who 'tore apart' her family by plundering thousands of pounds from her father in law's company has walked free from court.

Emma Kilminster of Phoenix Way, Westbury almost destroyed the business by abusing her position as accounts administrator to pay herself and her husband second salaries.

And as a result of the 37-year-old's deception her father in law Mike said people had lost her jobs and he had suffered a heart attack.

In a victim impact statement the 61-year-old, from Sherston, added he and his wife had now lost contact with his 10 and 13-year-old grandsons.

He said Christmas presents sent for the boys had been returned by their parents while other staff had left their businesses as a result her actions.

And he told how he had to be rushed to hospital in an ambulance after suffering the heart attack as the stress took hold.

During the period that she was stealing from work he said he and his wife knew they were having financial problems and helped them out with holidays, clothes and cash.

Kaj Scarsbrook, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court Mr Kilminster senior runs two business providing spares for agricultural machinery: KM Parts Group and Parts Tech Ltd.

The defendant's husband Richard ran the Devizes-based Parts Tech for his father, he said, earning £25,500 a year.

Meanwhile she was paid £120 for a 15 hour week as a general accounts administrator, giving her access to payroll and other company expenditure.

In 2014 her father in law was concerned about the state of the finances at the firm, which employed nine people, and got his accountants to look into it.

After a long investigation, in which he said his daughter in law blamed others, he said it was uncovered she had been on the take.

Between April 2013 and the end of November 2014 she gave herself £5,926 and her husband £8,132.77p they were not entitled to.

In his victim personal statement Mike said his daughter in law used 'lies and all sorts of nastiness' and was 'manipulative' as she denied any wrongdoing.

He said two members of staff were laid off and part of the company closed as a result of the offending.

Kilminster admitted two counts of fraud but only after being told she would get a suspended sentence.

Robert Morgan-Jones, defending, said the money was not used for luxuries but came in small transfers when the family was going through financial difficulties.

He said she was now the sole breadwinner holding down two jobs as a bookkeeper with employers who know about her past.

Her husband, who has been bankrupt in the past, has been diagnosed as bipolar and is on benefits but is hoping to get back into work soon.

Although it will take a while he said his client, who is remorseful, wanted to repay what she took.

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said "It is quite obvious you were manipulative, devious and calculating and quite prepared to use other people in these machinations without any regard for what effect it might have on their employment.

"I have also read about the effect your offending has had on the health of other people, notably your father in law.

"You almost destroyed this business but perhaps more importantly you tore that family apart."

He imposed a 14 month jail term suspended for two years with 250 hours of unpaid work and told her to pay £14,000 compensation by the end of 2019.