Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker was sentenced today to two years and six months for neglecting the conditions of his bankruptcy, hiding assets and loans worth 2.5 million pounds to avoid paying his debts.
The former world number one tennis player was taken to the cells of Southwark Crown Court in London, while his girlfriend Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro kissed him after he was accused by a judge of not showing remorse.
Becker, 54, was declared bankrupt in June 2017, owing creditors nearly £ 50 million over an unpaid loan of over £ 3 million at his mansion in Mallorca, Spain. The BBC expert transferred around £ 390,000 from his business account to others, including those of his ex-wife Barbara Becker and estranged wife Charlie “Lily” Becker.
He also failed to declare his £ 1 million stake in his hometown of Leimen, Germany, hid a bank loan of almost £ 700,000 – worth £ 1.1 million with interest – and hid 75,000 shares in a technology company. worth £ 66,000.
Becker, who received a two-year suspended sentence for tax evasion and attempted tax evasion worth £ 1.4 million in Germany in 2002, was found guilty on April 8 of four breaches of the Insolvency Act between June and October 2017. d.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. This afternoon, Judge Deborah Taylor sentenced the six-time Grand Slam champion to 30 months in prison, of which he will serve at least half.
Referring to Becker’s previous sentence, the judge said this afternoon: “You did not pay attention to the warning you received and the chance you received from the suspended sentence, and this is a significant aggravating factor.”
And she said to Becker, the father of four, “I mean what was described as your ‘falling away from grace.’ You have lost your career and reputation and all your assets as a result of your bankruptcy.
“You have not shown remorse, you have not admitted your guilt and you have tried to distance yourself from insult and bankruptcy. Although I accept your humiliation as part of the procedure, there has been no humility.
As they took him away, Becker was flushed and seemed to be struggling with his bag overnight. His girlfriend Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro kissed him before he disappeared from the court in the cells below.
Reacting to the news, Becker’s friend and colleague, former tennis star Andrew Castle, told LBC today: for the BBC, I’ve sat next to him, I’ve played with him, I’ve trained with him, I’ve dated him, I’ve been drunk with him, he’s a good man – he’s been in prison for two and a half years. And I’m, look, I’m shocked because it’s close to me. I am sad that his life has come to this and I hope that he will be able to recover on the other side.
“If you don’t pay your creditors, you pay the price. This is the second time since what happened in Germany in 2002. I thought it was possible, but I am surprised and deeply shocked that I will not be working with him at Wimbledon this year and that he will go to prison. And I’m sorry about Lillian.
And Dean Beale, chief executive of the Insolvency Office, added: “Boris Becker’s verdict clearly shows that withholding assets from insolvency is a serious crime that we will prosecute and bring violators to justice.”
Becker arrived in court with Miss de Carvalho Monteiro this morning, elegantly dressed in a suit and tie at Wimbledon, as he climbed the stairs and entered the building while holding hands with her.
He then entered the dock as his eldest son entered the courtroom, carrying a large Puma bag that the tennis star had previously been seen carrying outside his home.
Boris Becker arrives with partner Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro for his sentence at Southwark Crown Court in London today
Sketch of Becker’s forensic artist heading to cells after being convicted today, viewed by his girlfriend Lillian and son Noah
Sketch by Becker forensic artist awaiting sentencing (left) and sentencing (right) at Southwark Crown Court today
Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro, a friend of Boris Becker, is leaving the Royal Court in Southwark after being convicted today
Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro, a friend of Boris Becker, is leaving the Royal Court in Southwark after being convicted today
Becker Noah’s son (left) and girlfriend Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro (right) leave Southwark Crown Court this afternoon
Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro, a friend of Boris Becker, is leaving the Royal Court in Southwark after being convicted today
Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro, a friend of Boris Becker, is leaving the Royal Court in Southwark after being convicted today
Boris Becker arrives with partner Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro for his sentence at Southwark Crown Court in London today
Boris Becker arrives with partner Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro for his sentence at Southwark Crown Court in London today
Former tennis player Boris Becker arrives today in the court of Southwark Crown in London to hear his sentence
Boris Becker arrives with partner Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro for his sentence at Southwark Crown Court in London today
Boris Becker arrives with partner Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro for his sentence at Southwark Crown Court in London today
Becker’s son Noah and Becker’s partner Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro during lunch break at Southwark Crown Court today
Becker’s friend Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro on a lunch break with a cigarette in front of Southwark Crown Court today
This morning he was seen carrying a green canvas bag from Puma as he left his home in West London and boarded a black taxi to head to court. Earlier in the day, he also went out to buy a bouquet of flowers.
Yesterday, Becker spent the day browsing Harrods and visiting an unknown woman in her municipal apartment. The father of four was filmed in Knightsbridge, Paddington and Notting Hill.
“Humiliated” Boris Becker has “nothing” to show for a “brilliant” career
Tennis legend Boris Becker is left with nothing to show for his “brilliant” sports career and will have to rely on charity to survive, his lawyer said.
The 54-year-old three-time Wimbledon champion was declared bankrupt in 2017 over a loan from private bank Arbuthnot Latham against his Mallorcan mansion.
His lawyer, Jonathan Leidlow, QC, said the bank already owned the property, which Becker said was worth about 50 million euros (42 million British pounds) in the midst of the real estate market.
He said the six-time Grand Slam champion would lose any interest he has in other properties or assets he owns.
“This accused has lost literally everything and has already paid an extremely high price, both for the poor management of his financial affairs, for which, of course, he has no one to blame but himself, but also for his insult,” he said.
“Boris Becker literally has nothing and also nothing to show for what was the most brilliant of his sports careers, and this is rightly called nothing but tragedy.”
Mr Leidlow said Becker, who coaches world number one Novak Djokovic after his retirement, works as a television sports commentator for television operators, including the BBC, and acts as the brand’s ambassador for companies such as Puma.
“His fall is not just a fall from grace, but the most public humiliation for this man,” he said.
“The extent of his suffering, and it will continue, is a punishment that no other bankrupt in this country is likely to experience.
“These procedures completely ruined his career and ruined any further prospects for earning income. His reputation is shattered.
“He will not be able to find a job and will have to rely on the mercy of others if he wants to survive.”
Dressed in a gray jacket and baseball cap, he was spotted taking a taxi to a Bayswater municipal property to visit a woman before leaving 90 minutes later to shop in Harrods, where a security guard led him through a side entrance. He later returned home, clutching the Puma’s trunk.
The six-time Grand Slam winner is now facing a loss of lucrative contracts with television networks around the world, including his work as a BBC expert at Wimbledon.
On Wednesday, Becker was hugged by his girlfriend while resting with a cigarette during a meeting with documentary filmmaker George Chignel in London.
And last weekend he was photographed with his estranged wife Lily and their 12-year-old boy in south London, before the father and son met Miss de Carvalho Monteiro.
The tennis star, who lived in Monte Carlo and Switzerland before moving to the United Kingdom, told the court earlier that she had “expensive lifestyle commitments”, including a £ 22,000 a month house in Wimbledon. South West London.
Becker was declared bankrupt on June 21, 2017 due to an unpaid loan of over 3 million British pounds at his mansion in Mallorca. He has been accused of embezzling millions of pounds, including two Wimbledon trophies, to avoid paying off his debts.
He claims to have cooperated with trustees in charge of protecting his assets, even offered his wedding ring and acted on expert advice.
Prosecutor Rebecca Chackley told the Southwark Crown Court today: has found that he has done so. ‘
She continued: “None of the money in number four, the money transferred to third countries, was in the amount of 390,000 British pounds. According to the indictment, the entire amount is recoverable or should be reported, not just the 50 percent that Mr. Laidlow claims.
It is true that the jury found that the defendant did not know about the prescribed period or came to the conclusion that the transfer to the other accounts of Boris Becker is not concealment, but it is …
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