Tennis Legend Boris Becker Has Been Jailed

Tennis legend Boris Becker has been jailed for two and a half years for hiding £2.5 million worth of assets and loans while avoid paying his debts.

On Friday (29 April) the six-time Grand Slam singles champion was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment of which he will serve half, at Southwark Crown Court.

The three-time Wimbledon champion was declared bankrupt on June 21 2017.

The 54-year-old reportedly owed creditors almost £50 million because of an unpaid loan of more than £3 million on his estate in Mallorca, Spain.

He was said to have transferred 427,000 euros (£390,000) from his business account to his wife and ex-wife, as well as others.

The commentator failed to declare his share in a £1m property in his home town of Leimen, Germany.

He also hid an 825,000 euro (£700,000) bank loan worth £1.1m with interest, along with 75,000 shares in a tech firm, valued at £66,000.

Becker was handed a two-year suspended sentence for tax evasion attempted tax evasion worth 1.7million euro (£1.4m) in Germany in 2002.

The sports icon was also found guilty of four offences under the Insolvency Act between June 21 and October 3 2017.

Referring to his previous conviction, Judge Deborah Taylor said: “You did not heed the warning you were given and the chance you were given by the suspended sentence and that is a significant aggravating factor.”

She told Becker: “I take into account what has been described as your fall from grace.

“You have lost your career and reputation and all of your property as a result of your bankruptcy.” 

But she added: “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.”

Words by Anish Vij