Tennis ace Boris Becker was pictured buying a Harrods hold-all, while he also visited a London council flat ahead of his sentencing over his recent bankruptcy case. At the beginning of the month, Becker was found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act, and faces up to seven years in jail.
The German star was convicted of hiding a number of assets, including nearly £700,000, 75,000 shares in a tech firm and some of his most prized tennis titles - including two Wimbledon trophies. During his illustrious playing career, Becker earned nearly £40million.
The 54-year-old has fallen into financial trouble in recent years and was officially declared bankrupt in 2017 over an unpaid loan of more than £3 million on his estate in Mallorca, Spain.
Despite earning his millions, Becker revealed to the court that his once eye-watering finances had dwindled due to his divorce, child maintenance and ‘expensive lifestyle commitments’ which included many a shopping spree at the historic Harrods store.
With the German less than a day away from hearing his bankruptcy verdict - which could be up to seven years in prison - he still had time to make one more visit to the lavish London shop as he dropped by the store on Thursday. Prior to his Harrods trip, Becker was also spotted making a pit-stop at a council flat in Notting Hill, West London.
It was reported by the Times that Becker took a cab to the council estate, before hopping into another private taxi which then dropped him off outside the Harrods store in Kensington. The report also confirmed that the person who opened the flat door for the former Wimbledon champion refused to comment.
Becker will attend Southwark Crown Court from midday today (Friday) where he will hear the fate of his conviction from Judge Deborah Taylor. The German revealed he was ‘shocked and embarrassed’ when being declared bankrupt in 2017, but insisted he had cooperated with trustees in charge of securing his assets.
On Friday morning, Becker was pictured returning to his home with a bouquet of flowers, and also spent time with his son, Amadeus.
Following the 2017 bankruptcy the six-time Grand Slam winner handed his wedding ring over, but concealed ownership of a £1.3 million home in his native Germany, a £692,000 loan he received from a Liechtenstein bank as well as his shares in the artificial intelligence firm. Judge Taylor will be asked to take into account Becker’s previous 2002 conviction for tax evasion back home in Germany, where he received a suspended prison sentence and paid a £2.5 million fine.
