Burlesconi Gets Seven Years in Prison, Banned from Office Holding

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Burlesconi has the heavy arm of the law on him for sleeping with an underage prostitute. There are still two appeals to go through, but not good news for the former "Bunga bunga" man himself. He was convicted and sentenced to seven years in jail. Even harder for the 76 year old is that the ruling also bars him from holding office for the rest of his life.

His lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, immediately announced an appeal and said the sentence was as expected as it was unjust.

"This is beyond reality," Ghedini told reporters outside the courthouse. The sentence was even stiffer than the six-year prison term and lifetime ban on public office that prosecutors had originally requested.

"I'm calm because I've been saying for three years that this trial should never have taken place here," Ghedini said.