Former tennis star Boris Becker was sentenced to two years and six months in jail by a London court on Friday for hiding hundreds of thousands of pounds of assets after he was declared bankrupt.

The six-time Grand Slam champion was convicted on April 8 for transfering large amounts of money from his business account, failing to declare Germany property, and hiding 825,000 euros ($866,500) of debt and shares in a tech firm.

However, he was acquitted at Southwark Crown Court earlier in April of a further 20 charges, including nine counts of failing to give up trophies and medals he won during his tennis career.

CGTN correspondent Nawied Jabarkhyl, who was in court in Central London for the sentencing on Friday, said Becker had sat quietly, looking pensive as he awaited his fate, wearing a grey suit, white shirt and a tie in the green and purple colours of the Wimbledon tennis championships.

"As the courtroom waited for the judge to return I noticed  Becker whispering to himself on several occasions," he said.

"The delay made for a tense and suspenseful atmosphere. Once the judge returned and sentenced him to 2.5 years in prison, saying he'll have to serve half of that before being considered for release, he sat stunned and visibly taken aback by the decision, showing little emotion. His fall from grace was well and truly cemented."

READ MORE

Ukraine crisis threatens global food security

Bridge Builders: The Anglo-Chinese Guo family

1980s China: in photographs

Sentencing the three-time Wimbledon champion, who has a previous conviction for tax evasion and attempted tax evasion in Germany in 2002, Judge Deborah Taylor told him:

"It is notable you have not shown remorse or acceptance of your guilt," she told him. "There has been no humility."

She said Becker would serve half his sentence behind bars and the remainder on licence. Becker, whose partner Lillian and son Noah were in court, looked straight ahead as the sentence was handed down.

At his trial earlier in April, he told jurors he did not know where the memorabilia was, including two of his three Wimbledon men's singles trophies.

The former world number one told the jury how his $50 million ($40 million) earnings had been eaten up in an expensive divorce from his first wife Barbara Becker, child maintenance payments and "expensive lifestyle commitments".

Becker said he was "shocked" and "embarrassed" when he was declared bankrupt in June 2017 after failing to pay a loan of more than £3 million ($3.76m) on his estate in Mallorca, Spain.

The German, who has lived in Britain since 2012, said he had worked with trustees trying to secure his assets, even offering his wedding ring, and had relied on his advisers to manage his life outside of tennis.

Despite this, the 54-year-old  player was found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act.

Becker had previously told the court that he earned a "vast amount" of money over his career.

However, despite going on to coach current world number one Novak Djokovic, work as a TV sports commentator and become a brand ambassador for firms including Puma, he said his income "reduced dramatically" after his retirement in 1999.

Becker, a previous resident of Monte Carlo and Switzerland, also owes the Swiss authorities five million francs (about $5.1 million) and separately just under one million euros in liabilities following his conviction for tax evasion and attempted tax evasion in Germany.

He said that the publicity had damaged "brand Becker", making it harder for him to make enough money to pay off his debts.

Becker, famed for his shock of strawberry-blond hair, entered the international tennis stage in 1985, becoming Wimbledon's youngest men's singles champion at 17. 

He would take the title home again one year later and a third time in 1989.

He also won the US Open once and the Australian Open twice, becoming the top-ranked player in the world in 1991.

Becker turned to commentary after his retirement, but in 2013 returned to the court to coach Djokovic, helping the Serb win six more Grand Slam trophies in their three years together.