Xuenou > Sports > Ex-Premier League star who was Prince William’s pal sentenced to 14 months in prison
Ex-Premier League star who was Prince William’s pal sentenced to 14 months in prison
Ex-Premier League star who was Prince William's pal sentenced to 14 months in prison,Former Aston Villa striker John Carew has been sentenced to over a year behind bars after he was charged with tax fraud totalling almost £500,000 in his native Norway

Ex-Premier League star who was Prince William’s pal sentenced to 14 months in prison

A former Premier League footballer who was friends with Prince William has been sentenced to 14 months in prison.

John Carew became a fan favourite during his four years with Aston Villa before going on to have spells with both Stoke City and West Ham United during his time in England. He also struck up an unlikely friendship with the Prince of Wales, with the pair pictured embracing at Wembley Stadium when Villa were promoted to the Premier League in 2019.

Carew was charged with tax fraud totalling NOK 5.4million, which equates to £457,000, between 2017 and 2019. He claimed that he had not cheated on his taxes on purpose and ultimately avoided a longer sentence as a result.

READ MORE: Fans plead for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to end careers together at Inter Miami

Had the court deemed Carew evaded taxes intentionally, then he could have been sentenced to up to two years and seven months in prison. In addition to his sentence, Carew has also been fined NOK 540,000 (£45,700).

Carew's legal team are said to see the verdict as a victory, with the court siding with his argument that he had not broken the law on purpose.

John Carew
John Carew has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for tax fraud (Image: Getty Images)
John Carew
John Carew scored 48 goals during four years at Aston Villa (Image: Getty Images)

His lawyer Berit Reiss-Andersen explained, via E24: “This shows that John Carew is believed on all counts. The court has concluded that he has acted grossly negligently, but not with intent. We have claimed this all along, and Carew has been clear that he has wanted to make amends.”

The defendant's lawyers had pushed for a community sentence, though, meanwhile prosecutors had asked the court for a two-year prison sentence.

During his time at Villa Park, Carew scored 48 goals in 131 appearances after signing for the club from Lyon. After a loan spell at Stoke, the striker had a brief stint with West Ham before retiring in 2012.

He also won 91 caps for Norway across his career, scoring 24 goals for his country and was named the Norwegian footballer of the year on three separate occasions.

READ NEXT:

  • Premier League table without VAR shows Liverpool in 12th and West Ham up seven places

  • Roberto Carlos recalls shot that injured captain hours before 2002 World Cup

  • Emotional Cristiano Ronaldo opens up on baby's tragic death and wants to know 'why us'