Berlusconi sentenced to jail after sex trial Italians react to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's conviction for paying for sex with an underage prostitute and abusing his office to favour her after a Milan court sentenced him to seven years in jail and banned him for life from holding public office. Observers feared a guilty verdict could see Berlusconi pull support from the coalition government, of which his centre-right People of Freedom party is a key member. Images and soundbites