Boris Becker’s trophies ‘auctioned off for £700,000 to pay debts’

Former Wimbledon champion denies nine counts of failing to hand over trophies and other awards

Boris Becker arrives with his partner Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro at Southwark Crown Court in London. EPA

Trophies won by tennis star Boris Becker were auctioned off for £700,000 ($925,000) to pay his debts, a court has heard.

The six-time Grand Slam victor, 54, is accused of failing to hand over nine other awards, including two of his three Wimbledon men’s singles trophies and an Olympic gold medal, after he was declared bankrupt in June 2017.

Southwark Crown Court was told on Thursday that the former Wimbledon champion was “frustrated” with the ongoing bankruptcy process.

He also felt he was “badly treated” by private bank Arbuthnot Latham, which initiated proceedings after incurring a debt of more than £3 million over a loan on his estate in Mallorca, Spain — part of which was subject to a 25 per cent yearly interest rate.

Trustee Mark Ford — one of those attempting to recover Becker’s assets — said he had a “tense” relationship with the sports star, who became “emotional” when talking about trophies he said he no longer controlled.

The jury heard that in one conversation with Mr Ford, the tennis star said: “Mark, do you think, bearing in mind I am now facing criminal charges relating to these trophies, that if I had access to them, I wouldn’t have given them to you?”

Becker’s barrister Jonathan Laidlaw QC explained the trophies players are allowed to keep are miniature versions of those presented on court, showing jurors his 1986 President’s Cup replica.

He said the trophy was given by Becker to his mother, along with his Wimbledon title from the same year, and neither are included in the charges he faces.

The court has heard how other memorabilia taken from Becker, and his mother’s German home, was sold off to pay his debts.

“There was an auction which realised something like £700,000,” said Mr Laidlaw.

Becker, who won 49 singles titles in 77 finals in 16 years, denies 24 charges under the Insolvency Act.

They include nine counts of failing to hand over trophies and other awards, seven of concealing property, five of failing to disclose estate, two of removal of property and one of concealing debt.

As well as failing to offer up memorabilia including his 1991 and 1996 Australian Open trophies and his Davis Cup trophy and gold coin, Becker is accused of hiding €1.13 million (about £950,000/$1.3 million) from the sale of a Mercedes car dealership he owned in Germany.

The money is said to have been paid into his Boris Becker Private Office Ltd business account, which he used as a “piggy bank” to pay personal expenses, such as his children’s school fees, the court was told.

Becker is accused of transferring hundreds of thousands of pounds to other accounts, including those of his ex-wife Barbara Becker and estranged wife Sharlely “Lilly” Becker.

He also allegedly failed to declare two German properties, as well as his interest in a £2.25 million flat in Chelsea, West London occupied by his daughter Anna Ermakova, and hid an €825,000 (about £950,000/$1.3 million) bank loan as well as shares in a tech firm.

The court heard that Becker, who is being supported in court by his partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, has a previous conviction for tax evasion and attempted tax evasion in Germany in 2002.

The trial continues.