THE wife of conman Kevin Foster has said there will be an appeal against his conviction after he was jailed for 10 years last week.

Speaking three days after Foster's sentencing on Friday, Elaine Foster, 45, said: "I feel even worse now – I wasn't expecting such a long sentence.

"I haven't spoken to Kevin yet but I'm hoping to see him soon. We will definitely be appealing against the conviction."

Foster, 52, of Seed Road, Doddington – who conned family, friends and colleagues out of £34million – looked shocked as Judge Nic Madge delivered the sentence at Harrow Crown Court on Friday. Judge Madge told Foster: "These offences are so serious that I have no option but to impose a lengthy sentence.

"It was a dishonest enterprise from the beginning."

Referring to the lavish lifestyle the family enjoyed at £600,000 Wellwood Farm – which Foster denied purchasing with investors' cash – Judge Madge said the home had a swimming pool, spa tub, exotic fish, animals and birds and a toy collection, which Foster claimed was worth £2million.

He said Foster ignored warnings from a QC and from Trading Standards that his pyramid scheme was illegal.

Acknowledging the role the Financial Services Authority played in the investigation, Judge Madge continued: "The FSA was right to intervene when it did. If it hadn't done so, many more investors would have lost money."

Last month, Foster was found guilty of 14 counts of theft and deception after a seven-week trial.

One charge related to inviting others to take part in investment activity and two charges related to carrying out the activity.

Foster was also found guilty of five counts of dishonestly concealing facts and six counts of theft.

The total sentence for all charges was 10 years.

The jury found him not guilty of one count of theft relating to £220,000 discovered at his home and could not reach a verdict on another theft count relating to a Ferrari Spyder – Judge Madge declared him not guilty of this charge at the sentencing.

Several investors told the jury they believed Foster to be an honest man. So many people arrived at the court to support him on Friday that some had to wait outside.

Susan Wendy Braveboy from Lancashire, who invested in the scheme, wrote to Judge Madge, saying of Foster: "He was open and honest with all members."

The theme tune for flashy roadshows used to promote Foster's various investment schemes – collectively called KF Concepts – was Money for Nothing by Dire Straits but Judge Madge told the court: "The lesson of this trial is that no one can honestly and safely get something for nothing."