De-Laurey was found guilty on 20 April

Joyti De-Laurey, 35, from Cheam, in Surrey, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court on 20 April of taking money from her bosses at Goldman Sachs.

Her husband Anthony, 50, was jailed for 18 months for money laundering.

De-Laurey's mother, Dr Devi Schahhou, 68, was given a six-month suspended sentence also for money laundering.

During the trial the court heard De-Laurey was arrested just weeks before she was due to start a new life with her family at a seafront villa, worth �750,000, in Cyprus.

It is clear to me that lying is woven into the fabric of your (De-Laurey's) being Judge Christopher Elwe

If she had not been arrested she would have taken delivery of a �150,000 power boat and a �175,000 Aston Martin she had on order.

De-Laurey siphoned the money from the private accounts of her bosses, husband and wife Jennifer Moses and Ron Beller, and their successor Edward Scott Mead.

As well as being trusted for efficiency, she gained sympathy from her employers by claiming she had cancer.

De-Laurey bought �400,000 of Cartier jewellery as well as designer clothes and made donations of �10,000 to charities.

During the trial the defendant said her bosses allowed her to take the money as a reward for services.

'Deceitful and dishonest'

De-Laurey was convicted of 14 charges of obtaining money transfers by deception and six of using "false instruments" with intent between 15 February 2001 and 26 April 2002.

Passing sentence Judge Christopher Elwe told De-Laurey the idea that she had permission to take the money was "absurd and preposterous".

He said: "On the evidence I have heard and from observing you in the witness box, it is clear to me that lying is woven into the fabric of your being.

"You are duplicitous, deceitful and thoroughly dishonest."

The court also heard that during the trial De-Laurey stole �16,000 from her mother's account to cover bills.