The French film star, the fake Irish aristocrat and the missing €7m

Trial to open in Nice of Thierry Fialek-Birles, accused of an ‘elaborate fraud’ against the actor and director Dany Boon

One of France’s most popular actors will have a starring role in court when a fake Irish aristocrat goes on trial accused of cheating him out of millions of euros.

Dany Boon, director and star of Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (Welcome to the Sticks), France’s biggest box office hit, says an alleged conman, who claimed to be an Oxford-educated maritime lawyer, stole nearly €7m (£6m) from him as part of an elaborate scam.