A financial adviser who tricked vulnerable and trusting clients out of £180,000 during a series of "despicable" deceptions has been jailed for three years.

The four victims, aged from 59 to 75, have not had any of their money back and are set to recoup only a fraction of their losses.

Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday many had suffered personal tragedies when Richard Brewer exploited their trust.

Brewer, 42, of White Horse Crescent, Grove, Wantage, was regarded as a close friend by those he conned, and knew of their personal difficulties.

The court heard that he encouraged them to invest in a series of schemes - but diverted the money into his own accounts and a joint fund run with his wife.

He then used the money to pay off debts, drove a top-of-the-range BMW car and holidayed in Spain.

Passing sentence, Recorder Ann Campbell said: "You are now bankrupt and these victims stand to obtain a mere 8p for every £1 they lost. Some of those people lost life savings as a result of your actions."

Tim Ashmole, prosecuting, said that Brewer met his victims while working for the TSB and Royal and Sun Alliance in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. The offences happened between 1998 and 2000.

Valerie Claridge, 63, of Didcot, lost £100,000. The cash was from her late husband George's pension.

The court heard that Brewer invested Mrs Claridge's money in his own name and then kept the cash.

Doris Turner, 73, of Radley, had known the defendant for more than ten years. Her husband died of cancer in 1993 and Brewer vowed to look after her finances.

She gave him £25,000 for a new investment he suggested and she made out a cheque to RI. The defendant then altered the cheque to R Brewer and kept the cash for himself.

Rosemary Jordan, 59, from Cirencester, was looking after her 90-year-old mother. Her sister had been killed in a road accident, leaving £30,000 in insurance policies.

Brewer said that she could get a better return for her investment and she wrote out a cheque for £30,000 which he then deposited in his own credit card account.

Jim James, 75, of Drayton, lost £40,000. Brewer obtained the cash by forging a letter, setting up an account in Mr James's name and withdrawing the funds himself.

Police were alerted when Mrs Claridge became suspicious and Brewer confessed to the other offences.

Although he took £195,000 in total, Brewer made a number of payments to some of his victims, which included fake interest and bonus payments from the bogus investments to add credibility to the deception.

Nicholas Syfret, defending, said his client was "deeply ashamed" and remorseful.