AN NHS nurse from Cwmbran forged a doctor's signature to obtain prescriptions for Botox worth more than £3,000 for her personal beauty business.

Kate Matthew, 34, of Glaslyn Court, faked the signatures so she could carry out beauty treatments privately for her business in Cwmbran.

She pleaded guilty six counts of fraud by false representation at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, and received an eight month suspended sentence for 18 months and unpaid work.

The court heard how Matthew obtained six prescriptions worth £3,300 while working as a health visitor, by using the signature of a doctor she had met on a course.

However, the 34-year-old was caught when the pharmacy contacted the doctor with a query over one of the prescriptions and an investigation was launched.

Prosecuting, Harry Baker said: "A handwriting expert was called in and they confirmed the signatures did not match."

Cardiff Crown Court heard Matthew was confronted by a pharmacist the next time she tried to obtain a new prescription.

Mr Baker said: "She told the pharmacist: 'Please don't report this. I'm a single mum – I didn't know what I was doing was wrong'."

Matthew submitted six false prescriptions between September 2014 and June 2015 to obtain the Botox while working for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

The court heard she paid for the cosmetic face filler by credit card but skipped paying a £30 doctors fee by forging the signatures.

She used the products for her personal beauty business called ‘Kate Matthew – Medical Aesthetics’ specialising in lip fillers, eyebrow raises and face lifts.

James Tucker, defending, said she is likely to lose her status as a registered nurse.

He said: "Her actions were utterly stupid.

"However she was qualified to administer the Botox and no one was harmed by her actions.

"She spent four years training to be a nurse, then two years completing a masters in public health.

"However, she is committed to a career she now cannot pursue."

Summarising, judge Geraint Walters handed Matthew an eight months sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered her to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

He said: "It was a shortcut you took that has led to life changing consequences for you."