MS Lisa Leeson, wife of rogue banker Nick Leeson, whose deals brought down Britain's Barings bank, will join Richard Branson's airline Virgin Atlantic as a stewardess.

Although Ms Leeson (27) will start her career as an air hostess on transatlantic routes, the company said that after six months she would qualify for discount flights on the airline and after one year's employment could claim reduced fares from rival carriers.

Her new career will cut the cost of visiting her jailed husband in Singapore to just 10 per cent of the normal fare once she is eligible for discount flights.