Judge frees model in £100m St Paul's con

The only man to face trial for an attempt to defraud St Paul's Cathedral of £100m walked free from court yesterday.

Antonio Barea, 28, was the only one left in the dock after two of the more senior suspects skipped bail and fled abroad, and the Crown dropped proceedings against a third.

The Italian male model, who had been recruited by a team of conmen, was given a six-month jail term by Judge Elwen, but released immediately because of the time he had spent in custody on remand.

Those behind the scam had posed as devout worshippers and movie moguls to offer church officials a £50m donation, Southwark Crown Court in London was told. But the giveaway was conditional on twice that sum being handed over for investment.

Fortunately, police were alerted in time for officers to infiltrate negotiations and foil the plot.

Barea, who told the court that money problems had driven him to crime, pleaded guilty to four counts of using a false instrument with intent to deceive on 16 June 1999.

The charges were sample counts relating to false documents he used to extol the bogus investment scheme, which was purportedly being offered by the US Treasury.