‘Becker claim he does not know where his trophies are is not credible’ ‘

Tennis legend Boris Becker’s evidence that he does not know where his career defining trophies are is ‘not credible’, a court heard.

Becker, 54, is accused of concealing assets, including two of his three Wimbledon men’s singles trophies, a Chelsea flat and two German properties after he was made bankrupt.

In her closing speech, prosecutor Rebecca Chalkley said the former world number one
‘seeks to hide behind his advisers’.

She said: ‘On the point of non-disclosure of assets he seeks to blame his advisors for the non-disclosure.

‘The obligations and duties however were with him,’ said Ms Chalkley.

Ms Chalkley told jurors they may well feel sympathy towards Becker as far as the demand he hand over his tennis trophies is concerned.

‘These trophies are assets of value and he ought to have at least given them to the trustees for valuation,’ she said.

‘It is Mr Becker’s case he didn’t know and does not know where these trophies were, some of the most significant of his sporting career.’

Jurors heard that Becker not knowing the location of the trophies that ‘defined his career’ is ‘simply not credible’.

After numerous attempts to recover these trophies, including a BBC campaign, they are yet to be found.

‘Ask yourself if the reason for this is Boris Becker knew they were safely tucked away and therefore there would be no information about where they were,’ said Ms Chalkley.

Becker said he failed to disclose details of an apartment his architect father built inLeimen, Germany, because he believed it was in his mother’s name.

But jurors heard that in a letter applying for a loan in 2008, Becker listed the flat as one of his assets.

‘He knew about it in 2008 but was completely surprised by it in 2017.

‘What changed between those dates?

‘The answer, you may think, is that he was set out to deliberately conceal it,’ said Ms Chalkley.

Becker also concealed his interest in a luxury Chelsea flat in which his daughter lives in, it is claimed.

Giving evidence he said the property was owned by a trust and he didn’t believe it was part of his assets.

The prosecutor rejected this as it was also listed in the 2008 letter.

‘It is clear in how he disclosed and set out to use the property he didn’t really consider the terms of the trust at all.

‘He didn’t concern himself with the trust but simply treated it as another property he owned,’ she said.

‘You may think this is a further example of Mr Becker being less than frank and transparent.’

Jonathan Laidlaw, QC, defending Becker, said in his closing speech: ‘In truth, as I suspect you can all see for yourselves, this man has been hopeless with money.

‘When he played he was handsomely rewarded, but when his playing career was at its end. He struggled to keep up with commitments.’

Becker, of Battersea Church Road, Battersea, denies seven charges of concealing property, nine counts of failing to disclose trophies, two counts of removing property required by the receiver, five counts of failing to disclose details of his estate and one count of concealing debt.

The trial continues.
ends