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

The six-time Grand Slam champion, 54, is accused of failing to hand over nine other awards after he was declared bankrupt in June 2017.

Southwark Crown Court was told on Thursday that BBC commentator Becker was “frustrated” with the bankruptcy process, which continues to this day. He also felt he was “badly treated” by private bank Arbuthnot Latham, which initiated proceedings over a debt of more than £3 million over a loan on his estate in Mallorca, Spain – part of which was subject to a 25% yearly interest rate.

Trustee Mark Ford – one of those tasked with recovering Becker’s assets – said he had a “tense” relationship with the sports star, who became “emotional” when talking about trophies he said he had lost control of. 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.