Kevin Steele, a former top partner at Mishcon de Reya, has started a five and a half year jail term this week for his part in an £18.4 million fraud. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to use false instruments last December.

Steele was rumbled after providing fake paperwork to allow his client Michael Shephard to obtain a multi-million pound loan to develop a Turkish resort. Both Wayne Rooney and former Brazilian star Ronaldinho bought villas off plan, so it must have been pretty classy.

In cahoots with Shephard (who will serve six years) and his business associate Mark Pattinson (who got 18 months), Steele got himself involved in a complex web of deceit. Paperwork was provided to EFG Private Bank showing that Shephard had £76 million on deposit in a Guernsey bank, which was used as security for the £18.4 million loan. In reality, the vault was not quite so full. Steele - who had power of attorney over Shephard's accounts - helped draft two dodgy faxes and an undertaking testifying to Shephard's alleged enormous wealth.

Kevin Steele looking forward to meeting his cellmate.

Perhaps worst of all, Steele brazenly hoodwinked three other innocent partners at Mishcon into signing an undertaking. David Aaronberg QC, leading the prosecution, said in court that the three partners "were deceived in signing [the undertaking] because each of them trusted Steele as a fellow partner...each of them believed that he would not have said anything...which was untrue".

A spokeswoman for Mishcon (AKA "Princess Diana's former firm", © all newspapers) reiterated the firm's comment from 2010, stating "Kevin Steele was expelled from Mishcon de Reya in September 2008. At this time, the firm carried out a thorough internal investigation and brought in the police and the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. It ensured that the interests of its clients were fully protected throughout."