three times Wimbledon the champion boris baker He has been found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act at Southwark Crown Court and acquitted of 20 other charges related to the 2017 bankruptcy.
The six-time Grand Slam champion, 54, was accused of hiding assets worth millions of pounds, including two Wimbledon trophies, to avoid paying his debts.
The former world number one baker was declared bankrupt on 21 June 2017 over an unpaid debt of over £3 million at his estate in Mallorca, Spain.
The German national, who has lived in the UK since 2012, claimed he cooperated with trustees working to secure his assets, even offered his wedding ring, and acted on expert advice.
Baker denied all 24 charges and was acquitted of 20 but pleaded guilty to four today.
Some of his trophies were auctioned off for £700,000 to pay off his debts, and he made various appeals to try to find them.
Baker, who was supported throughout the trial by his partner Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro, was found guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on Friday of four charges under the Bankruptcy Act, including failing to disclose assets, removing assets Two cases of stay and hide were involved. loan.
The three-time Wimbledon winner, who was acquitted of another 20 counts, was granted bail on April 29 before being sentenced in the same court.
In his closing remarks, his defense barrister Jonathan Laidlaw QC told jurors that Mr Baker relied heavily on mentors after his success to become famous and wealthy.
Mr Laidlaw insisted this continued throughout his life and that Baker’s life at the time of the bankruptcy was ‘chaotically’ managed by counselors.
Boris Baker arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London this week with partner Lillian de Carvalho Monterover
A court artist’s sketch of Boris Baker (far right) in the witness box being interrogated by his barrister Jonathan Laidlaw QC (left). His partner Lillian de Carvalho Monterover can be seen in the foreground, and prosecutor Rebecca Chackley can be seen at left.
Former tennis player Boris Becker is supported on the court with his partner Lillian
He continued: ‘Some of those advisors were giving genuine good advice with the intention of being in the best interest of the defendant – others, as the way of the world may be, offered a piece of the pie for their fame and fortune. It is possible . and that is all.’
Mr Laidlaw said Baker was “very trustworthy and dependent” on advice given by “many advisors” around him.
Jurors heard that Baker had an element of ‘burying his head in the sand’ in matters of money and finances.
Referring to Baker’s bankruptcy proceedings, Mr. Laidlaw said: ‘He is facing in a country where English is not his mother tongue, a process he has no experience with.’