The 37-year-old, of Ewell Minnis, Kent, worked at the University of Bath at the time of the offences.

He was given a nine-month sentence suspended for a year after admitting conspiracy to make fake degrees.

‘Pain management’

Woodgett was also ordered to undertake 200 hours of community service.

The court heard that Woodgett, who originally lived in Frome, Somerset, had at first paid Cameroonians Elsie Neh and Mbone Kemba to be spanked under the pretence that he was conducting a “pain management” study.

He later offered fake university qualifications in return.

The scam was uncovered by a UK Border Agency investigation.

Woodgett also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of articles for use in fraud.

His ex-wife, Delphine Kah, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make fake degrees.

The court heard Kah, of London, and Woodgett both forged bachelor and masters degrees for Kah and members of her family when he worked as a university registrar for the University of Surrey.

Kah, who is also Cameroonian, was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and 200 hours of community service.