Former England cricketer Darren Gough believes that the Pakistan trio convicted of corruption in the spot-fixing scandal should have been handed longer prison sentences.

The three sportsmen were sent to jail today after being found guilty of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments at Southwark Crown Court.

The former national captain Salman Butt was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, while Mohammad Asif will spend a year behind bars and Mohammad Amir six months.

"I'm pleased [about the sentences]," Gough told Sky Sports News. "I'd like to have seen them go in longer to be honest.

"At last justice has been done. You commit the crime, you do the time, and it's the way you should be taught.

"I think the sentences [are too lenient] but it's still jail time. We all know they'll probably serve only half of that sentence. But you wouldn't wish that on your worst enemy."

Despite thinking that the cricketers deserved a harsher punishment, the former Yorkshire fast-medium bowler believes that the decision is a good deterrent.

"I think it sends out a strong message to the youngsters in cricket," he added. "They've lost all respect for what they did in cricket, it's a big knock-back for them."

The agent involved in the scandal, Mazhar Majeed was served with the longest prison sentence of two years and eight months.