A bogus investment banker who led a life of luxury with £18 million swindled from church funds and people's life savings has been jailed for eight years.

Floriberta Clemente, 40, of Britannia Court, Brighton, used some of her ill-gotten gains to buy a £107,000 Ferrari and enjoy extravagant shopping trips.

During one visit to Harrods she blew £1,000 on caviar, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Clemente, of Brittania Court, Brighton, was convicted by a jury on four counts of using the proceeds of criminal conduct between November 1997 and May last year.

Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Hardy told her she had been at the heart of laundering money conned from the "naive and vulnerable on a truly grand scale".

The Dutch Council of Churches was duped for £17 million, while an American businessman lost £633,000 and a South African businesswoman was left more than £285,000 poorer.

Judge Hardy said he would be recommending her deportation to her native Mexico when she was released from prison.

Clemente, described as "an extremely intelligent person", did not give evidence but argued through her barrister that she never suspected the money had criminal origins.