Car dealer faces jail for duping footballer John Carew

A car dealer who duped Premier League footballer John Carew was remanded in custody today after being found guilty of fraud and theft.

Judge Rupert Mayo opted not to grant bail after adjourning sentence on Richard Esprit, who faces a custodial sentence for tricking Aston Villa star Carew out of around £200,000.

A jury at Birmingham Crown Court unanimously convicted Esprit of two counts of fraud and two of theft after hearing that he failed to supply Carew with a Porsche Cayenne Gemballa.

Following the guilty verdicts, Esprit, of Ouseley Road, Staines, Surrey, asked the judge through his barrister for his bail to be renewed pending sentencing on January 28.

But Judge Mayo told Esprit that the evidence against him was overwhelming and he had already had plenty of time to put his affairs in order while on bail.

Giving evidence to the jury last week, Carew said he paid £100,000 to Esprit for the Porsche, which he never received.

The Norwegian footballer told jurors he had agreed to pay Esprit a further £50,000 for modifications to the car, which he wanted to be pearl white, with a "lipstick" red interior.

The court heard that while he was waiting for the white Porsche, the footballer also bought a Porsche 997 from Esprit for £92,500, but returned it to the salesman after problems with the registration paperwork and never received any money from its resale.