An English teacher in Spain who defrauded a Scottish university has lost her appeal against a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence.

Begona Nuno tricked St Andrews University out of around 300,000 euros between 2002 and 2004. The former head of a language school took payments from youngsters around Valencia for summer English courses at the prestigious Fife seat of learning. But Ms Nuno did not pass on all the money, convincing St Andrews that the cash would come from Valencia council instead.

Court reports in Spanish newspapers suggested Ms Nuno had travelled to St Andrews with local council officials. According to the sentencing statement, this "reinforced the appearance of solvency, backed by a public body, which the accused presented".

In fact, Ms Nuno had even obtained financial support from the council for the trips. However, she only settled for the journey, leaving the cost of the actual tuition unpaid. She told the university, court reports said, that this was a matter for the council.

Ms Nuno was first convicted of fraud fully 11 years after the final group attended summer courses in St Andrews in 2004. Valencia's provincial court of justice ordered her to serve three and a half years in jail and pay compensation of 300,000 euros to the university. The Chamber for Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court, also in Valencia, on Wednesday upheld this sentence.