Francis de Gaetan Rutherford

Francis de Gaetan Rutherford, who had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to fraud, was told by Her Honour Judge Knowles: "This is a tragic case from every point of view. It's tragic from the point of view of people that have lost money.

"It's tragic to have a man standing in the dock with the past and reputation that you had hitherto."

Blackfriars Crown Court, London, heard that Rutherford, 64, stole more than �150,000 from six couples over several years.

Overseas account

The estate agent, who has written a book on the legalities of the French property market, acted as an agent and stakeholder for clients selling homes in France.

He convinced them to pay the proceeds from sales into his bank account and then dodged the clients when they tried to find out what had happened to their cash.

His excuses included legal problems in France and trouble getting access to his overseas bank account.

I'm flabbergasted - it's not a fair reflection of what he's done Richard Harvey Victim

He also moved money between clients to cover his tracks.

Richard Harvey, 72, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and his wife Anne, 64, lost more than �30,000 after selling their home through Rutherford.

After sentencing, he said: "I'm flabbergasted. It's not a fair reflection of what he's done."

Rutherford has been declared bankrupt and his victims are unlikely to be remunerated.

Bryan McHugh, 68, a retired insurance executive from Fetcham, Surrey, who lost �36,000, said: "I'm not very happy about the sentence.

"He was a recognised expert and that in itself attracts people to use him, so we certainly didn't expect what happened."

Professional disqualification

The court heard that the agent, who had 30 years' experience in the French property market, worked under the company names of Rutherfords - the French Agents, Rutherfords Consultancy and Rutherfords All France.

He was based in an office in Fulham, south-west London, and later from a home address.

Rutherford, of Redcliffe Square, Earls Court, south-west London, admitted one count of fraudulent trading between 1 January, 1996 and 26 November, 1998 - totalling �156,350.

He was told he would serve nine months in prison with the rest suspended, and be disqualified from acting as a company director for six years.