6-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker on Friday was sentenced to two-and-half years in jail after he was found guilty of hiding hundreds of thousands of pounds of assets after he was declared bankrupt.
Becker was convicted earlier this month of four charges under Britain’s Insolvency Act, including failing to disclose, concealing, and removing significant assets following a bankruptcy trial.
Becker was the first unseeded player to win Wimbledon when he achieved the stunning feat as a 17-year-old in 1985. The 3-time Wimbledon champion has been living in Britain since 2012.
The 54-year-old German tennis great was found guilty of transferring 427,00 (£356,000) to nine recipients, which included the bank accounts of his ex-wife Barbara and his estranged wife Sharley “Lilly” Becker. He was also convicted of failing to declare a property in Germany as well as hiding an 825,000 bank loan and shares in a tech firm.
“It is notable you have not shown remorse or acceptance of your guilt,” judge Deborah Taylor told him as she sentenced him to two years and six months in prison at London’s Southwark Crown Court. “There has been no humility.”
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She said Becker would serve half his sentence behind bars and the remainder on licence. Becker, whose partner Lillian and son Noah were in court, looked straight ahead as the sentence was handed down.
WHAT BECKER SAID
The six-time Grand Slam champion has denied all the charges, saying he had cooperated with trustees tasked with securing his assets — even offering up his wedding ring — and had acted on expert advice.
At Friday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutor Rebecca Chalkley said Becker had acted “deliberately and dishonestly” and that he was “still seeking to blame others.”, according to news agency AP.
During the