Frank Cochran, the owner of Wolverhampton-based FSC Investment Services, was convicted unanimously by a jury of sexual assault, putting a person in fear of violence by harassment and controlling or coercive behaviour.
The sentence followed a two-week trial where the court heard the 60-year-old had left his victim “scarred” and a “shadow of her former self”.
Cochran earlier pleaded guilty to possession of a taser, which he bought while on holiday in Florida, that he used to “scare her”.
The prosecution described Cochran in court of being a successful financial adviser who thrived on being in control.
Newspaper StokeonTrent Live reported that judge Gosling, in delivering his sentence, said: “You have a talent for finances and exude self-confidence, but you are superior and arrogant. You have fallen from a great height.”
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court how Cochran bullied and manipulated her through controlling and coercive behaviour.
This behaviour included squeezing her neck, pinching her, threatening to kill her and striking her in the eye with his elbow.
Advising the stars
In addition to employing 13 people at FSC Investment Services, Cochran is a director of London-based advice firm Celebrity Financial Planning.
He has also been the subject of newspaper and TV profiles focused on his high-profile status and celebrity client base, and is a regular personal finance commentator in the media.
He has advised former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona and has spoken of having close links to Chelsea football club, and advising TV stars and lottery winners on offshore investments and dealing with their tax affairs.
His firm FSC Investment was formerly the official “wealth management partner” of Wolverhampton Wanders FC.
Sentence
Cochran was told by the court he would serve the second half of his seven-year sentence on licence and would be placed on a sex offenders’ register for life.
He was found not guilty of five charges of rape and three further charges of sexual assault.
