A man with a "grandiose sense of self-importance" has been jailed for impersonating a qualified barrister at crown court after he donned a wig and robe to represent a friend he met in prison.
David Evans strolled into Plymouth Crown Court dressed in court attire, gained access to the advocates' dressing room and visited his "client" in the cells.
However the 57-year-old was rumbled by the judge because of discrepancies in his clothing and a series of "hopelessly wrong" legal submissions.
A jury at Bristol Crown Court found Evans unanimously guilty of carrying out a reserved legal activity when not entitled and wilfully pretending to be a person with a right of audience.
Appearing at the same court, Mrs Justice Laura Cox DBE sentenced Evans to 18 months imprisonment after also hearing he had previous convictions for a similar offence.
Speaking directly to Evans, who works as an entertainer, the judge said: "You were convicted of two offences which reflected your sustained, deliberate and dishonest actions over the course of several months.
"You carried on the conduct of litigation on behalf of Terry Moss, appearing as an advocate on his behalf at the crown court when you were not qualified or authorised to do so.
"What you did was very serious and furthermore these offences are seriously aggravated by your previous conviction in 2005 when you falsely claimed to be a clinical psychiatrist."
It was while Evans was serving a sentence for obtaining money by deception at Dartmoor prison that he met cannabis producer Terry Moss, who he would go on to try to represent during a preliminary hearing for a proceeds of crime application.
"The evidence showed you manipulated him," Mrs Justice Cox said.
"The planning of this enterprise was entirely yours, it was your decision to style yourself as a senior advocate.
"You took advantage of Mr Moss who thought you were a genuine person.
"You are a complex and clearly intelligent man... you have a grandiose sense of self-importance.
"You have exhibited no remorse and you have no appreciation that you did anything wrong."
Evans, of Culver Close, Penarth, South Wales, dressed in a grey suit, blue shirt and striped tie, and showed no emotion as he was taken down to the cells.