https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...tar-jailed-two-years-bankruptcy-offences.html
Boris Becker is JAILED for 2½ years: Judge slams tennis ace for showing 'no remorse' as she jails him for £700,000 bankruptcy fraud... before 'humiliated' star's girlfriend blows him a kiss as he's taken to the cells
- Three-time Wimbledon champion and ex-world number one tennis star was declared bankrupt in 2017
- Becker, 54, owed creditors almost £50million over an unpaid loan of £3million on his estate in Mallorca
- Transferred around £390,000 from his business account to others, including those of his ex-wife Barbara
- BBC commentator found guilty on April 8 of four Insolvency Act offences between June and October 2017
The former world number one tennis player was led to the cells at Southwark Crown Court in London as his girlfriend Lilian De Carvalho Monteiro blew him a kiss, after he was blasted by a judge for showing no remorse.
Becker, 54, was declared bankrupt in June 2017, owing creditors almost £50million over an unpaid loan of more than £3million on his estate in Mallorca, Spain. The BBC pundit transferred around £390,000 from his business account to others, including those of his ex-wife Barbara Becker and estranged wife Sharlely 'Lilly' Becker.
He also failed to declare his share in a £1million property in his home town of Leimen, Germany, hid a bank loan of almost £700,000 - worth £1.1million with interest - and concealed 75,000 shares in a tech firm, valued at £66,000.
Becker - who got a two-year suspended sentence for tax evasion and attempted tax evasion worth £1.4million in Germany in 2002 - was found guilty on April 8 of four Insolvency Act offences between June and October 2017.
Each count carried a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. This afternoon, Judge Deborah Taylor sentenced the six-time Grand Slam champion to 30 months' imprisonment, of which he will serve at least half.
Referring to Becker's previous conviction, the judge said this afternoon: '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.'
And she told father-of-four 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.
'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.'
As he was led away, Becker was red-faced and appeared to struggle with his overnight bag. His girlfriend Lilian De Carvalho Monteiro blew him a kiss before he disappeared out of the court to the cells below.
Reacting to the news, Becker's friend and fellow ex-tennis star Andrew Castle told LBC today: 'Still reeling from the news this Friday afternoon that Boris Becker - who's a great mate of mine, I've done many Wimbledon finals for him for the BBC, I've sat alongside him, I've played with him, I've practised with him, I've been out with him, I've been drunk with him, he's a good man - he's going to prison for two and a half years. And I'm, look, I'm shocked because it's close to me. I'm sad that his life has come to this and I hope he's able to rebuild on the other side.
'If you don't pay your creditors, you pay the price. It's the second time this had happened after what happened in Germany back in 2002. I thought this was a possibility, but I'm surprised and deeply shocked that I won't be working with him at Wimbledon this year and that he's going to go to prison. And I feel sorry for Lilian as well.'
And Insolvency Service chief executive Dean Beale added: 'Boris Becker's sentence clearly demonstrates that concealing assets in bankruptcy is a serious offence for which we will prosecute and bring offenders to justice.'
Becker had earlier arrived at court with Miss de Carvalho Monteiroa this morning, dressed smartly in a suit and wearing a Wimbledon tie as he walked up the steps and into the building while holding hands with her.
He then entered the dock of the court, while his eldest son came into the courtroom carrying a large Puma-branded bag, which the tennis star had previously been seen carrying outside his home.
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