Former Oxford City FC president jailed for fraud

Thomas Guerriero (right, pictured with chairman Brian Cox) resigned in December

The former president of Oxford City Football Club has been jailed over a multi-million pound stock investment fraud in the US.

Thomas Guerriero took charge of Oxford City in March 2013 before resigning citing poor health in December.

He pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison at Miami's federal court.

A local reporter told the BBC he looked "absolutely shocked" with the sentence.

Paula McMahon of the Florida Sun Sentinel said: "It was a telemarketing and stock fraud - cold calling elderly people in their homes and saying 'have I got an opportunity for you'.

"Elderly people gave him their entire retirement funds and he basically blew it.

"The judge told him he was a predator who ruined people's lives."

She said he used his connections with the English football team to boost his business credentials with those he was defrauding.

The American was one of nine defendants in the stock investment fraud case. He has agreed to pay $6.6m back and forfeit homes as part of the plea agreement.

The charges related to the separate Florida-based Oxford City Football Club Incorporated.