David Bermingham, Gary Mulgrew and Giles Darby conspired with former Enron Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow to defraud NatWest.

The trio persuaded NatWest to sell their stake in Enron venture LJM Cayman for the low price of US$1 million (£500,000) -- the stake was then sold on for US$19 million (£9.6 million), with the conspirators dividing US$7.3 million (£3.7 million) among themselves.

Judge Ewing Werlein ordered the three to pay back the US$7.3 million in order to 'regain their respect.'

He said that their former employer should recieve back 'every dollar or, over there, every pound.'

But Judge Werlein did pay tribute to 'the large amount of support each of you have been given by people who have seen your favourable qualities.'

"I wish you well in your future endeavours and I'm confident we will never see you before a court again," he said.

The verdict concludes a long running case -- they were first indicted in 2002, arrested in 2004, and were only extradited from the UK in 2006 after a legal battle.

But the court allowed the three to be released on bail, with the condition that they reside exclusively in Houston.

It is now hoped that the three can serve out the bulk of their sentence in a UK jail.

After paying back the money to Natwest and serving around half of their sentence in a US jail, they can apply to be transferred home.

For their part, the defendants were contrite and remorseful.

"At the time I didn't realise the implications of what was happening," said Darby in court.

"I failed to take the right course of action and I deeply regret that."

Mulgrew apologised 'unreservedly' for his deeds and said that they 'lacked integrity.'

"I'm just very glad this is over now," said Bermingham after the hearing.

"It's been a difficult time."