Boris Becker, the famed tennis player was on Friday sentenced for two and a half years in Jail after being found guilty by a British court of charges pointing to his 2017 bankruptcy. Judge Deborah Taylor, who handed down the sentence, said Becker will serve half the sentence.
Becker is among the leading names in tennis – known for his aggressive playing attitude on court and lavish lifestyle. With six Grand Slam singles titles (three at Wimbledon, two Australian Opens and a US Open), and later as Novak Djokovic’s coach for six major titles, his word and opinion were much respected.
Now, the 54 year old six-time Grand Slam champion, will serve half of the term having being convicted at Southwark Crown Court in London over his transfer of huge amounts of money from his business account. He also failed to declare a property in Germany and concealed 825,000 euros ($866,500) of debt and shares in a tech firm.
Boris Becker found Guilty on Four Counts
Southwark Crown Court in London found the former World No.1 Boris Becker guilty on four counts of the Insolvency Act — removal of property, two counts of failing to disclose estate, and concealing debt.
Becker was acquitted earlier this month of a further 20 charges, including nine counts of failing to hand over trophies and medals he won during his glittering tennis career. Becker told jurors he did not know the whereabouts of the memorabilia, including two of his three Wimbledon men’s singles trophies.
Judge Deborah Taylor had released Boris Becker — who won Wimbledon as an unseeded teenager — on conditional bail ahead of her sentencing decision on Friday.
Passing sentence, she told him: “You have not shown remorse, acceptance of your guilt and have sought to distance yourself from your offending and your bankruptcy. “While I accept your humiliation as part of the proceedings, there has been no humility.”
Taylor said Becker’s previous conviction in Germany for tax offences was “a significant aggravating factor”. Becker arrived early for the hearing, wearing a striped purple and green tie in the Wimbledon colours, a white shirt and a charcoal grey suit.
He held hands with his partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro as he walked into court past a bank of waiting reporters and cameras. The star showed no emotion as he was sentenced, picking up his bag before being taken down to the cells.
There was no immediate word that Becker would appeal and he will lodge any legal challenge from behind bars.
US women’s tennis great Chris Evert responded to Becker’s imprisonment by tweeting: “Sorry to hear about @TheBorisBecker… fun to work with on @eurosport and always a gentleman.”
