Boris Becker has been moved to a prison for foreigners, according to reports. The Times claimed the German's lawyer told journalists in Berlin he has been transferred to a category C Huntercombe prison near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.
He was previously at category B Wandsworth prison in south west London, near Wimbledon, where he enjoyed so much success as a player. Although the tennis legend is being held in a more relaxed prison than he was previously, Becker is in danger of being deported as early as next year.
Huntercombe is one of only two prisons solely for convicted foreign nationals and holds approximately 400 men. A 2017 report found around 185 criminals out of 197 released from the prison within a six month period were deported.
Becker has lived in Britain for a decade but will be considered for deportation as he does not have British citizenship. Foreigners sentenced to more than 12 months in prison could be kicked out of the UK as their expulsion “is deemed to be conducive to the public good”.
A source said: “Boris always said he would get citizenship but never did. Criminals from overseas can be deported if their sentence is serious enough. Boris is likely to be considered.”
In 2015, Becker, 54, said he enjoyed living in west London and was going to apply for British citizenship, but it is believed he never made the application and is not “naturalised” in the UK.
The Home Office said: “Any foreign national who is convicted of a crime and given a prison sentence is considered for deportation at the earliest opportunity”. Becker is spending time behind bars at Huntercombe prison after he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for hiding assets during bankruptcy proceedings.
Becker is expected to spend just 15 months locked up, and serve the rest of his time on licence.
