Vincent Clegg, 53, who ran a boutique in London's Hatton Garden, bought luxury looted antiques from the home of 78-year-old widow Suzanne De Wilde.

The dodgy dealer got the items at cut-rate price before selling them at top auction houses including Bonhams, based in New Bond Street.

The antiques haul included 46 miniature portraits, vignettes, antique watches and gold boxes taken from the house in Cyncoed, Cardiff, a court heard.

Police traced the items back to Clegg who initially denied a charge of handling stolen goods but later changed his plea to guilty. 

Newport Crown Court heard Clegg claimed he only realised the goods had been stolen after police knocked at his door. 

His version of events was rejected by Judge Daniel Williams - who called Clegg "thoroughly dishonest".

Judge Williams said: "The homeowner, then 78, was the victim of a burglary at her home on November 8, 2012. The burglars must have targeted her home believing it contained valuable antiques.

"She was living on her own at the address after her husband died two years before. 

"The antiques stolen were valued at £158,000 with 278 items in total, a large quantity of which were miniature portraits. Most of them were unaccounted for.

"You dishonestly received a significant amount of the proceeds of the burglary including many of the miniature portraits. Many of those have not been recovered.

"She said the burglary has made her scared and has aged her significantly and she has not slept well since this happened five years ago." 

The court also heard that Clegg had previous convictions relating to handling stolen goods in the 1990s.

Judge Williams added: "I am sure you knew the items were stolen when you received them and you knew the items came from a planned and targeted dwelling house burglary.

"Despite the qualities you have which have been described by your wife and your father, there's a rich seam of dishonesty that runs through you." 

Clegg, of Romford, London, was jailed for three years at a court hearing on Friday.