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Norwich Evening News Friday, March 29, 2013
Fraudster sentenced to 14 years in [email protected] Grimmer
A self-styled lawyer who once tried to take over Norwich City Football Club has been sentenced to a total of 14 years in jail for a series of frauds on “desperate and vulnerable victims” whom he tricked into thinking he was a bona fide legal professional.
Giovanni di Stefano, 57, pictured, who became known as the Devil’s Advocate for taking on “unwinnable” cases, was convicted on 25 charges including deception, fraud and money laundering between 2001 and 2011 at London’s Southwark Crown Court.
He made headlines in Norfolk in 2001 when he snapped up a six per cent share in the Canaries and attempted a hostile takeover to get his son installed as a director.
He pleaded guilty to another two
counts of fraud. He conned clients out of millions of pounds by setting himself up as a lawyer when he had no legal qualifications and was not registered to work as a lawyer in Italy or the UK.
He used the Italian word “avvocato” on business cards, letterheads and identification
documents to give clients – and the judiciary – the impression he was an advocate.
Judge Alistair McCreath, the Recorder of Westminster, said: “Some predators hunt down their victims, others lie in wait for them.
“Your victims in this case were all desperate people and people who, because of their desperation, were vulnerable.”
In a loud voice di Stefano told the judge: “I am obliged, my Lord,” as he stepped out of the dock.
Di Stefano, of Canterbury, Kent, was found guilty of charges including nine counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception, eight counts of fraud, three counts of acquiring criminal property, two counts of using a false instrument, one count of obtaining property by deception and one count of using criminal property.
On the floor to snap the floraJanet Cane’s image of the Rosary Cemetery in
Thorpe Hamlet was taken for this week’s Iwitness24 challenge – to take a picture at ground level.
For more entries, see Monday’s Norwich Evening News, or you can visit www.iwitness24.co.uk
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Picture submitted byJanet Cane from
Norwich