Luca Morini, who has been defrocked by the Vatican, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years’ imprisonment at a court in Massa Carrara in northern Italy last week.

Thought to be a man of piety from the Tuscan town of Pontasserchio, he spent his money on the services of young male sex workers. He was found guilty of extortion against a former bishop in addition to being convicted of pretending to be a magistrate while hiring male sex workers.

The court heard he frequently asked his parishioners for financial contributions, which they thought were for blessings and for Morini to officiate at funerals or help the poor and sick.