[muchlove]

Leading fashion designer ROBERTO CAVALLI could face jail if he is found guilty of tax fraud charges.

Cavalli, who is close friends with MADONNA and VICTORIA BECKHAM, is being prosecuted after writing off $2.7 million (GBP1.5 million) in improvements to his Florence, Italy, villa as business expenses.

The 65-year-old claims he uses the luxurious property for photo shoots - but prosecutors insist the building work, which includes a helicopter landing pad and hangar, exceeds normal business expenses.

Italian lawyer TOMASSO COLETTA has demanded the presiding judge sentence Cavalli to two years behind bars.

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