Boris Becker sentenced to two years and six months in prison

The 54-year-old appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday morning in a gray suit, white shirt and Wimbledon purple and green tie. He had to wait until after lunch to learn his fate. In early April, a jury found Becker guilty on four counts of delaying bankruptcy.

Higher than expected

Three weeks later, Judge Deborah Taylor showed little mercy when handing down the sentence: she sentenced the former Wimbledon champion to two and a half years in prison. The sentence was higher than expected, British legal experts had previously only assumed a prison term of up to 18 months. But Becker’s lack of remorse – he had denied all allegations during the trial – was just as important as his previous conviction in Germany for tax evasion. The bankruptcy board had previously described his case as a “clear warning to anyone who believes they can hide their wealth and get away with it.”

Gallery: From tennis Olympus to the dock – the deep fall of Boris Becker in pictures

The crash started five years ago

Becker’s crash began almost five years ago, on June 21, 2017, when he was declared bankrupt by a London court. He had several million pounds owed by Arbuthnott private bank, which he could no longer service. From then on he was subject to the duties and stipulations of a bankrupt: he had to keep a true and complete statement of all his assets and liabilities, could no longer act as a director of a company and could not borrow more than £500 without disclosing that he was broke was. The insolvency authorities soon concluded that Becker was not properly fulfilling his duties and in November 2019 was forced to extend Becker’s conditions until October 2031 and indict him shortly thereafter. In his three-week trial for delaying bankruptcy, Becker was accused of a total of 24 charges. He was found guilty on four counts.

debts concealed

The jury found it proven that the sporting idol disposed of property, failed to disclose assets in two cases and finally concealed debts. This includes nine transfers that Becker made between June 22, 2017, the day after he declared bankruptcy, and September 28, 2017, totaling EUR 426,930.90. Among other things, these payments went to his two ex-wives Lilly and Barbara. In addition, Becker concealed a loan of 825,000 euros from a Liechtenstein bank and failed to state that he owned 75,000 shares in the company Breaking Data Corp or that he owned his parents’ house in Leimen. These facts of active concealment of assets and asset transfer weighed heavily in the determination of the sentence.

“Unworldly and naive in financial matters”

Becker had rejected all charges in court and called himself innocent. Above all, his lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw tried a central line of defense: The German was unworldly and naive in financial matters. “Hopeless with money,” was how Laidlaw put it, and during Becker’s interrogation informed the jury that the tennis player didn’t know how many bank accounts he had, just skimmed through contracts, had cash given to his entourage and not his own job in taking care of business, but in training hard, playing well and winning as often as possible. Laidlaw argued that this naïve attitude towards finances did not change even after the end of his tennis career. Becker was always dependent on his advisors and financial managers, whom he trusted. Laidlaw argued that Becker was not properly advised on his post-bankruptcy obligations. But there would be no guilt in being deceived.

Expensive divorces and luxury lives

The fall of the tennis star, who accumulated six Grand Slam titles and 49 tournament wins during his career, was traced during the trial. He earned around $25 million in prize money, said Becker, and that much again through endorsement deals. However, following his retirement from active play in 1999, revenues were “dramatically reduced” while expenses increased. Especially his two divorces would have cost him a lot of money. The life of luxury went on, however, including an apartment in London that cost around £22,000 a month to rent. Financially, a £1.2million personal loan broke his neck, on which he had to pay 25% interest.

“He really lost everything”

“This defendant has really lost everything. Boris Becker has nothing left, nothing!” Lawyer Laidlaw implored the judge to show leniency in his last speech before the verdict. “His career has been destroyed. He will no longer find work. He will have to depend on the good nature of others to survive.” But Judge Taylor was not swayed by the moving words. “I have considered the objections that were raised for you,” she said. “But you made personal use of the company account. You embezzled property, hidden it. So much money was lost.” Immediately after the verdict was announced, Becker had to start his prison sentence. Should he decide to appeal, he must do so from prison.