AC Milan owner and former Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been handed a jail sentence of four years after being found guilty of tax evasion.

The sentence was made following a trial relating to the purchase of rights from his Mediaset television company to show US films on television.

Reports have claimed that the 76-year-old is expected to appeal the prison term and Italian law states that a verdict is not final until two cases of appeal are passed.

Berlusconi has been involved in previous criminal cases, which have either been dropped or the politician has been cleared of all charges.

Berlusconi announced earlier this week that he will not run for a fourth term in office.