Hathaway's ex jailed for fraud

Anne Hathaway's ex-boyfriend Raffaello Follieri has been jailed for four and a half years after being found guilty of fraud.

The 30-year-old, who split from the Hollywood actress in June after she became frustrated with his constant run-ins with the law, was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining $2.4 million, Reuters reports.

Follieri had led investors to believe that he had Vatican connections allowing him to the Catholic Church's unwanted US properties at a knockdown price.

"I have dishonoured my family name and embarrassed the Church I love," Follieri told a Manhattan court. "I will never be able to wash away the stain. I hope that someday those hurt by my actions will forgive me."

Attorney Reed Brodsky described Follieri as a "sophisticated scam artist" with a history of money laundering, wire fraud and lying to investors.

Follieri will be deported to Italy once his jail term is over.