'Real-life Thomas Crown' jailed after admitting stealing celebrity paintings worth £500,000

It has been dubbed the modern Thomas Crown Affair - but unlike the character played by Steve McQueen, a celebrity art dealer who stole thousands from his wealthy clients will not be escaping in a private jet. 

Jonathan Poole was likened to the millionaire bank robber from the 1968 film after he admitted stealing almost half a million pounds from his clients, including Dire Straits bassist John Illsley.

Many of the works were sold without the owners' permission, with Poole pocketing the proceeds, and included art created by musicians including Miles Davis and Ronnie Wood.

He was jailed for four years after admitting 26 counts of theft and fraud. Some of the art has never been found.  

Prosecutor James Ward told Gloucester Crown Court: "Both Thomas Crown and Jonathan Poole stole the paintings in broad daylight.

"Whilst Thomas Crown stole as a challenge, because his world had become too stiflingly safe, Jonathan Poole stole either to fund a gambling habit, or to stash away money for later life or to fund a lifestyle he couldn't afford or to pay for debts he had accrued over the years.

"Although admitting to the police he was a gambler, the Crown shall never know the real motive for him thieving on such a grand scale."

Poole, who also managed the art estate of John Lennon, got away with ripping off his clients for 30 years in part because they were so wealthy they did not realise what was happening, added judge Michael Cullum.

One work, a portrait of Kate Moss by Sebastian Krüger, a German artist who is known for his images of celebrities, was unlawfully sold to a Gloucestershire pub, where it was damaged with a steak knife by a customer, the court heard.

He sold another stolen work to celebrity illusionist Derren Brown, and even cheated his own brother, selling him a £10,000 painting by Rolling Stones guitarist Wood which actually belonged to one of the gallery's clients.

Illsley lost £56,000 after Poole sold on two works which he had loaned for an exhibition. The musician had agreed that the two works by Davis could be sold, but only for £28,000 or more. They were sold for less than £10,000 each. 

His clients also included less wealthy owners, including a man who asked him in 1986 to sell four bronze horses which had been sculpted by his aunt before she died, Mr Ward said, "only for the sculptures never to be seen again nor their proceeds of sale".

Among the paintings he unlawfully sold were portraits of music stars Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr as well as model Kate Moss and Marilyn Monroe. 

Poole pleaded guilty to 24 counts of theft and two of fraud, and another 32, which he denied, were allowed to lie on file.

Sentencing him to four years in prison, the judge said: "The fact that you were able sequentially to be dishonest and to keep the proceeds which you were not entitled to or otherwise dispose of artwork and for that to remain undiscovered by the losers indicates the degree of trust that inevitably your professional reputation involved.

"Your high reputation and undoubted ability meant that those who were fortunate enough to inhabit a world where six figure sums might be the norm for investments could leave the trail open ended and without any degree of certainty of where things were or and what they were due, which those who don't have access to those sort of sums might be surprised about."

The thefts and frauds took place between 1986 and 2013, but the Poole was badly affected by the Gloucestershire floods in 2007, which damaged his gallery in the Cotswolds, the court heard. 

He claimed 235 works had been destroyed in the flood and received an insurance payout - but the prosecution said many of them, which belonged to clients, were sold by Poole and he kept the money.

Poole, who was not legally represented in court after his barrister withdrew from the case yesterday, told the court his financial problems had resulted from the internet.

"Things started to go wrong with the introduction of the internet. People would see a work they liked and then go home and see if they could buy it cheaper on the internet. This happened many times, to my frustration," he said. 

He added: "I hope prison can accommodate my illness which is only going to get worse. My mobility is not good."

Judge Cullum said Poole's medical file would be sent with him to prison to ensure he is looked after as well as possible. He said he realised that Poole has problems including a degenerative condition.

James Ward, from the CPS, said: “Jonathan Poole was a reputable art dealer who abused his position of trust in the most discreditable way. All of the pieces of art are extremely valuable and there is no doubt Poole was well aware of this."