A celebrity chef has been sentenced to more than seven months in jail for defrauding clients and business partners.

Disgraced Joel Kraaz – from Appenzell, in the city centre of Bern, northeastern Switzerland – shot to fame in the final of the German primetime television hit The Taste in 2017.

Now a Swiss court has issued a 220-day prison term against 35-year-old Kraaz.

Zurich District Court found him guilty of multiple fraud and embezzlement charges.

Kraaz has also been ordered to pay CHF 7,094 (GBP 6,300) in compensation and CHF 12,800 (EUR 11,400) in legal costs.

And he could face further penalties in civil claims for damages.

It has not been revealed whether his lawyer would appeal the sentence.

One of his victims Daniel Bernoulli – who runs the posh Aarbergerhof restaurant in Bern – told Swiss media: “Since he owes lots of money to other victims too, I’ll probably get my money back in 20 years’ time.

“But it feels fine to be taken seriously.”

Daniel hired Kraaz after another chef left at short notice.

He says Kraaz agreed to a three-and-a-half months contract but demanded CHF 5,040 (GBP 4,500) upfront.

Daniel explained: “I assumed you have to put trust in people to ensure they don’t betray you.”

But after discovering CHF 40,000 (GBP 35,500) debt allegations against Kraaz he confronted the chef.

Kraaz stormed out after just four days but kept the CHF 5,040 (GBP 4,500) he had already been paid. He neither returned the CHF 3,000 (GBP 2,600) Daniel had paid him to cover his travel expenses, according to local media.

Daniel said: “He claimed having suffered a nervous breakdown. However, the previous day he had posted a selfie as he sips a cocktail.”

Local media report that Kraaz owed his creditors CHF 400,000 (GBP 355,000).

Daniel concluded: “This person hasn’t just cost me thousands of francs but also an enormous amount of time and energy. I had sleepless nights for several weeks.

“Being forced to see that some people live their life this way really hurts. I do hope that he gets back on track.”

Kraaz’s manager Rolf Jordi said his client had to leave the Aarbergerhof due to a health issue.

Meanwhile, Kraaz has been accused by an ex-girlfriend of causing her enormous financial damage too.

The woman – whose name has not been revealed – is quoted by local media saying: “He cleared my bank account. Then he spent all the money that had been deposited in the accounts of my children.”

On his company website, Kraaz – who reportedly has 120 tattoos all over his body – says: “I became passionate about cooking as a child. I turned this fascination into my profession.

“Rock the Kitchen is my motto. I prove that a person’s appearance and their skills are two different things.”

Kraaz once said in an interview: “I always wanted to become a chef. I’ve never been interested in any other profession.

“I have four siblings. As a child, I never got a lot of pocket money. So I started toiling in nearby restaurants at the weekend.”

He added: “I’m inked all over my body, but I’ve worked for some of the finest places in Switzerland including several five-star hotels.

“For me, cooking is passion and vocation. It stands for inspiring others, creating something and achieving perfection. I love putting a smile on my customers’ faces.”

Kraaz – who has a small anchor tattooed under his right eye – revealed: “Most colleagues were shocked when they first saw me.

“But the ice has always been broken within five minutes.”