A woman said by a judge to have enjoyed the high life, thanks to the fruits of her husband's fraud, has been jailed for 15 months.

Carolyn Walsh laundered money through her bank account before it was spent on jewellery and other expensive goods, as well as stays in hotels like Claridges.

In addition, she and her husband David Walsh sold around £80,000 worth of vehicles, including a Mercedes, Ferrari and BMWs despite a court order.

Walsh, 42, of Princes Reach, Ashton, Preston, pleaded guilty to one money laundering charge and one of perverting the course of justice.

Her 39-year-old ex-husband was last year sentenced to six years for a £680,000 fraud carried out on a Lancashire based firm called Concept Business Solutions.

Having convinced the company he was a qualified accountant, he went on to steal funds from them.

Walsh had also hosted a Dragon's Den type initiative for would be entrepreners.

Today he had another twelve months added to his sentence after he admitted perverting the course of justice and also perjury.

Preston Crown Court heard that at the start of 2006 the company owners had challenged him about his activities.

He denied being dishonest and tried to reassure them that funds were on their way.

Money went on to be laundered through the wife's Nat West bank account.

Mr Robert Platts, prosecuting, said £16,000 worth of jewellery was now in the hands of police.

Other jewellery was sold on Ebay.

A lot of clothing had been bought and in addition, £6,000 was spent at Claridges.

"Money was pouring in from Concept and being used for a high lifestyle by Mr and Mrs Walsh", said the prosecution.

The couple went on to split up.

The court also heard that at a time when their assets had been put under restraint by the High Court in civil proceedings, David Walsh provided a sworn affidavit that he was a man of great wealth.

Mr Platts added: "He was claiming he had wealth of about six million pounds.

"Even on his arrest in July 2007 he was still maintaining that Concept owed him between five and six hundred thousand pounds because he had a five per cent share in it".

Mr Platts said that the cars sold had a value of around £80,000 that could have been put forward as restitution or compensation to the injured company.

The sales realised about £53,000.

Carolyn Walsh was a woman of previous good character.

Her barrister, Mr Richard Hunt, said she also could be said to be a victim of her former husband's dishonesty.

"She was very much in awe of him."

He said she had known nothing of what had been happening until everything came home to roost in January 2006.

Mr Hunt added: "Ultimately she will be left with nothing financially.

At 42 years of age this lady has to rebuild her life at some stage.

"She had been a desperate woman, placed in a desperate situation.

"The money from the selling of the vehicles did not go on a luxurious lifestyle, but was used to settle debts they both had.

"She would say she was acting very much under his influence and his encouragement at that time".

Mr Kevin Slack, for David Walsh, said he was now a very different man.

"He accepts that by his own conduct he has destroyed not only his own life, but has brought ruin on his then wife."

Judge Philip Sycamore said: "The court takes a serious view of those who involve themselves in dishonest activity".

He said Carolyn Walsh had benefited from the high life.

The judge added: "The court takes a very serious view of those who take steps to undermine the very system of justice of this country by doing acts tended to pervert the course of justice".