Bankrupt tennis great Boris Becker sent to jail

Boris Becker and partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro arrive at Southwark Crown Court, London, on Friday. Pic/AFP

Former tennis star Boris Becker was on Friday jailed for two and a half years after being found guilty by a British court of charges relating to his 2017 bankruptcy.
The six-time Grand Slam champion, 54, 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 (Rs 6.65 crore) of debt and shares in a tech firm.

Missing trophies

He 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 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".

Shows no emotion

Becker arrived early for the hearing, wearing a striped purple and green tie (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.

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