Francisco Nicolas Gomez Iglesias: Spanish prankster may face charges over gatecrashing state occasions and hoaxing rich and powerful

Little Nicolas, who talked his way into King Felipe’s coronation two years ago, is facing the prospect of four years behind bars

'Little Nicolas' shaking the hand of Felipe VI, at the Royal Palace in 2014 (GuidePost.es)

He has become famous for gatecrashing state occasions and hoaxing the rich and powerful, but a prankster known as Little Nicolas could soon find himself in trouble with the law.

Francisco Nicolas Gomez Iglesias talked his way into King Felipe’s coronation two years ago and was photographed shaking hands with the new monarch. Later that year he got several roads closed around a restaurant after pretending to be a member of the royal household. He told the mayor’s office that the king was going to dine there, only to turn up with a number of policemen in tow – now being investigated for taking bribes.

Little Nicolas’s pranks made headlines, but now, according to El Pais newspaper, a Madrid court is preparing charges against the 21-year-old law student, said to include bribery, forging of documents and the impersonation of a public officer.

Investigators are also probing the discovery of more than €100,000 (£780,000) in his bank accounts, according to the newspaper. If his case were to go to court, Little Nicolas faces the prospect of four years behind bars.