Today, John Galliano received a guilty verdict on his charges for "public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity", and has been sentenced to a suspended fine of €6000 as well as being put on probation for five years. Doesn't seem like much? Well, he's also being told to pay one of his victims the grand sum of one euro as a "symbolic act". Not too bad, considering that he could have faced a €22,500 fine and 6 months in prison.

The incident in question occurred in Paris’ old Jewish quarter, Le Marais, and saw Galliano hurl insults at a Jewish museum curator and her Asian partner, caught on film by a bystander:

“I love Hitler and people like you would be dead today”

Following his sacking from Dior, Galliano was full of regret, saying that his “triple addiction” to alcohol, sleeping pills and Valium had caused his odious behaviour. Despite his much publicised contrition, many fashion insiders believed that this ugly scandal spelled the end for his fashion career, and this guilty verdict could ensure that he never returns to his former glory.

Dior has been without an artistic director since March, with rumours that Marc Jacobs is being groomed for (and may in fact already be acting in) the role.