A secretary dubbed the Picasso of conmen after plundering £4.3million from her City bosses is now working at a charity that sells prisoners' art.

Joyti De-Laurey, 38, from North Cheam, was offered a job at the Koestler Trust just one week after being released early from Downview Prison.

The trust runs an arts award scheme which attracts 5,000 entries from offender institutions, high-security hospitals and immigration removal centres.

Mrs De-Laurey, who was described by a judge as "duplicitous, deceitful and thoroughly dishonest", has declined to handle money.

"I am in an admin role and don't get involved in anything else - no money-related issues.

"It is very difficult to get a job as an ex-offender. You have to be prepared to get a lot of knockbacks," she was quoted as saying.

"It is a completely different type of job. I don't have anywhere near the responsibility I used to.

"You have to accept you start at the bottom again But it's a lot better than being on state benefits.

"I couldn't cope with that. I went to the DSS office and felt physically nauseous."

Mrs De-Laurey was jailed for seven years in 2004 for siphoning off huge sums from three Goldman Sachs executives to pay for diamond-encrusted Cartier jewellery, luxury cars and lavish holidays.

Having been released on parole in August, she moved into a £250,000 apartment in London Road, bought with the proceeds of her fraud.

People brought up with the adage that crime does not pay will be galled she is gainfully employed.

But De-Laurey insists she is a reformed character.

Tim Robertson, director of the Koestler Trust, said: "We are lucky to have someone with such excellent admin skills. She is a fantastic part of the team."