Whitehead was sentenced at Carmarthen Crown Court

Angela Lesley Whitehead, 46, from Bolton, but previously of Llanon, Ceredigion, admitted theft from the Little Sunbeams appeal.

She stole �11,914.75 which was to be used to buy equipment for the unit at Aberystwyth's Bronglais Hospital.

The trust said it was pleased the matter was over.

Whitehead was sentenced at Carmarthen Crown Court after admitting theft before Aberystwyth magistrates in August.

Our thoughts are now with those generous people who contributed to this appeal in good faith Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust

She had initially been charged with the theft of �14,368.47, but she disputed the figure.

That hearing in August heard how Whitehead had set up the appeal after her granddaughter had been born prematurely in 2003 at Bronglais Hospital.

Specialist equipment

A spokesman for Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "The trust is pleased that the matter has finally been brought to a conclusion and our thoughts are now with those generous people who contributed to this appeal in good faith."

He added that all donations were gratefully received, but he hoped the "isolated incident" would not deter people from donating in the future.

He said people could still help the hospital, including the baby unit, by sending money directly to officials.

Whitehead was eventually arrested in February at Leeds-Bradford Airport by West Yorkshire Police after returning from Spain.

The court in August heard that Whitehead had intended to raise �50,000 for Ceredigion and Mid Wales Trust, which runs the hospital, for staff training and specialist equipment.

Within months, the court was told that Whitehead had bought equipment to help train staff for �400, a specialist book costing some �218 and a photo therapy equipment costing �1,768.38.

But Whitehead's solicitor said that the Little Sunbeams idea outgrew her capacity to deal with it and she was "caught in a Catch 22 situation".