Catrin Davies plays Emma Francis in Pobol y Cwm

Pobol y Cwm star Catrin Davies let Catherine Williams move in with her, but noticed money was disappearing from her credit card account.

A jury at Cardiff Crown Court convicted Williams, 23, of two counts of theft totalling �1,000, but cleared her on another six charges of theft.

The actress told a jury at Cardiff Crown Court how she was betrayed.

Miss Davies said: "I had known her (Williams) since we were 11.

It is very sad that you chose to steal from your friend Judge William Gaskell

"When she wanted to come to Cardiff to find work, I said she could stay with me and start paying rent after she got a job.

"Not long after she moved in, I had friends coming over, so I gave her my card and money to get food and drinks.

TV role

"Later, I noticed I was struggling with my finances a bit more than usual."

The court heard Miss Davies, 23, who uses the stage name Catrin Arwel, was paid up to �2,000 a week for her role as Emma Francis in the Welsh-language TV soap Pobol-y-Cwm.

Prosecutor Hugh Wallace told the jury: "They had been friends for 10 years. Miss Davies relied on her but Williams stole from her."

Judge William Gaskell fined Williams, of Llanddarog, Carmarthen, �1,000 and ordered her to pay Miss Davies �1,000 compensation.