A wheeler-dealer and his wife hugged one another in the dock when they were made to pay by a judge for a criminal life of luxury.

Nigel Brearcliffe, 49, who confessed to being “a selfish idiot” was jailed for eight months yesterday.

His wife Amanda, 43, a highly regarded NHS nurse, was spared a custodial sentence.

She was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, coupled with supervision.

The judge, Recorder Mark Bury, told her she had turned a blind eye to her husband’s criminality because it funded a luxurious lifestyle.

The couple’s “nice house”, expensive cars, jewellery, foreign holidays and Florida home were made possible by Nigel Brearcliffe’s tax evasion.

The judge said that, although not the prime mover, Amanda Brearcliffe chose the easy route when she took advantage of the benefits of her husband’s wrongdoing.

When police officers searched the couple’s home, in Micklethwaite Drive, Queensbury, in December 2006, they found 396 items of counterfeit goods.

“You went into this with eyes open and expected to make a tidy profit,” the judge said. “As you have said yourself, you have been a selfish idiot.”

Amanda Brearcliffe was convicted by a jury last month of two charges of possessing criminal property and one of removing criminal property from England and Wales.

Nigel Brearcliffe pleaded guilty before his wife’s trial to 13 charges relating to the possession of the fake clothing and money laundering, relating to more than £90,000 in three bank accounts. He also admitted removing £50,000 from England and Wales to buy the house in Florida.

Prosecutor Andrew Kershaw said the counterfeit goods, including Burberry, Timberland, Nike and Lacoste, were inferior to the real thing. When police returned to the house, they found jewellery and Rolex watches.

Brearcliffe told police he bought the fake items for £1,500 and expected to double his money.

His wife told officers her husband “buys and sells the odd car”.

The judge said he accepted that not all the couple’s luxury items were the fruits of criminality.

Jason Pitter, for Nigel Brearcliffe, said he now had a job and paid his taxes.

“He got into a pattern of living and did not break that pattern,” Mr Pitter said.

Sam Green, for Amanda Brearcliffe, said she had lost her positive good character and was suspended from her job as a nurse.

After the case, Detective Inspector Noel Devine, of Bradford South CID, said: “The Brearcliffes are now paying the price. However, it doesn’t stop there. West Yorkshire Police are in the process of seizing assets from them, including cash and property to the value of in excess of £100,000, both in this country and abroad.

“Family members also need to be aware that if they are profiting from other’s criminal actions, they too may find themselves being prosecuted, losing their assets such as houses and cars and even going to jail.

“We don’t just take the easy option of looking for one offender, we will investigate anyone profiting from crime.”