Boris Becker 'hid Wimbledon trophies' when declared bankrupt

Boris Becker hid his Wimbledon tennis trophies and Olympic gold medal after being declared bankrupt, a court has heard.

The six-time Grand Slam tennis champion is accused of using his business account as his own ‘piggy bank’ to pay expenses like his children’s school fees while concealing valuable assets and hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Jurors were also told that the former world number one, now 54, also spent hundreds of pounds at luxury department store Harrods, bought online groceries at Ocado and treated himself to designer Ralph Lauren clothes. Becker, who commentated for the BBC at Wimbledon last year, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court charged with 24 offences under the Insolvency Act relating to his June 2017 bankruptcy over a £3.5 million loan from private bank Arbuthnot Latham for a property in Mallorca, Spain.

The German is alleged to have failed to hand over assets including trophies including those won at the 1985 and 1989 Wimbledon tournament, the 1991 and 1996 Australian Open and the 1992 Olympics. Two President’s Cups, the Davis Cup Gold Coin and Trophy are also said to have been concealed.

Becker denies nine counts of failing to deliver up trophies and other awards, seven counts of concealing property, five counts of failing to disclose estate, two of removal of property and one of concealing debt. The trial is expected to last about three weeks.