Becker could face years in jail after being found guilty in bankruptcy case

Tennis star Boris Becker could face up to seven years in jail after he was found guilty of transferring hundreds of thousands of pounds from his business account following his 2017 bankruptcy.

The three-time Wimbledon champion, 54, was also convicted of failing to declare a property in Germany, hiding an 825,000 euro (almost £700,000) bank loan and shares in a tech firm.

Former world number one Becker told a jury how his 50 million US dollar (about £38 million) career earnings were swallowed up by an expensive divorce to his first wife Barbara Becker, child maintenance payments and “expensive lifestyle commitments”.

The six-time Grand Slam champion said he was “shocked” and “embarrassed” when he was declared bankrupt on June 21 2017 over an unpaid loan of more than £3 million on his estate in Mallorca, Spain.

The German national, who has lived in the UK since 2012, claimed he had co-operated with trustees tasked with securing his assets, even offering up his wedding ring, and relied on the advisers who managed his life.

However, Becker, who was supported in court by his partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro and eldest son Noah, was found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.

They include removal of property, two counts of failing to disclose estate and concealing debt.

Judge Deborah Taylor released Becker on conditional bail ahead of sentencing on April 29 when he could face a jail sentence carrying a maximum term of seven years on each count.

The BBC commentator did not respond to reporters’ questions as he left court with his partner and son.

The jury heard Becker received 1.13 million euros (about £950,000) from the sale of a Mercedes car dealership he owned in