An arrogant businesswoman duped her gardener into handing over his £48,000 inheritance with a promise she would invest it in a trust.

Instead, devious Rosemary De Hussey stashed it in a Swiss bank account in her son’s name.

And when the scam was revealed, she conned the trusting victim into signing a letter asking for charges to be dropped.

Now De Hussey, 69, of Kingsland Lane, Westwell, has been sent to prison and branded “heartless”.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how she also caused misery to two other families after illegally letting two holiday homes.

Even after being jailed for two-and-a half-years for fraud and perverting the course of public justice, she instructed her lawyers to ask if she could choose which prison she was sent to.

The court heard that after her arrest, the victims, including gardener John Lawrence, Pamela Tranter and Laura Heather, who had both rented holiday homes through De Hussey’s company, Buttercup Holdings, have been repaid.

But one of the frauds was carried out just months after she had received a suspended sentence for illegally evicting a tenant.

The judge told her: “You have shown no remorse and no regard for your victims.”

The jury heard how Mr Lawrence – who De Hussey had described as “vulnerable” – had come into a £47,820 inheritance.

Prosecutor Paul Tapsell told how in June 2011, he was tricked into handing over the money thinking it was being secured in a trust for his benefit.

Instead, she transferred the funds into the name of her son at a Swiss bank and then refused initially to return the money.

He said that by May 2014, De Hussey “persuaded” Mr Lawrence to sign a letter, which she had typed, asking police to drop charges after she promised to return the cash and pay for a new lawnmower.

The businesswoman – who was also known as Rosemary Canney and Rosemary Hearn – ran into financial difficulties in 2012, and bankers brought in the Official Receiver because of mortgage arrears and financial mismanagement.

It meant De Hussey was prevented from letting her holiday home at Honeywell Barn.

Despite this she took £1,000 from Ms Heather and another £1,700 from Ms Tranter; both bookings were later cancelled wrecking wedding and birthday celebrations.

Ms Heather told the court in a statement: “I don’t know how this woman can sleep at night. She is heartless.”

Judge Adele Williams, above, told the fraudster: “You have displayed a breathtaking arrogance and total contempt for your victims.”

She said that during an often acrimonious seven-day hearing, De Hussey had attempted to “obscure and complicate” the facts.

De Hussey, who was convicted on all four charges, handed in letters after the jury’s verdict from family and friends, some which describe her as “belligerent and failing to take advice”.

The judge said: “They show a great deal of insight into your character and also present a different picture, one this court has not seen before.

“You are clearly regarded by them as a loving mother, grandmother and sister, and displaying good qualities in relation to them.”