From centre court glory to rat-infested jail for Boris Becker

When the door closed on tennis great Boris Becker’s cell, it would have marked the start of the loneliest night of his life.

Former Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Boris Becker has been jailed in Britain on charges related to his 2017 bankruptcy.

When the door closed on Boris Becker’s cell yesterday, it would have marked the start of the loneliest night of his life.

Becker has been jailed for two and a half years after being found guilty by a British court of charges relating to his 2017 bankruptcy and his transfer of huge amounts of money from his business account. He also failed to declare a property in Germany and concealed 825,000 euros ($866,500) of debt and shares in a tech firm.

The former tennis champion was expected to begin his sentence at Wandsworth, the Victorian-era jail only two miles from Centre Court at Wimbledon.

The Category B secure jail, which can accommodate more than 1,500 inmates, was described in a recent inspection report as “crumbling, overcrowded, [and] vermin-infested”.

After swapping his designer suit for a uniform, Becker will have been given a brief introduction by prison officers before being locked in his “first night cell” to get used to life behind bars.

“It will be one of the worst days of his life but he just has to get through it,” said Jonathan Aitken, a former cabinet minister who was jailed for perjury in 1999 and is now a prison chaplain. “It is a culture shock for everyone but I think someone of Boris Becker’s strength of character and discipline will be able to cope.”

As a high-profile inmate Becker will then probably be offered the chance of being transferred to the vulnerable prisoners’ wing — where many inmates are sex offenders — or into the “general population”.

Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, girlfriend of Boris Becker, leaves court without him.

Aitken said: “There will be no special favours as a celebrity, everyone in a prison uniform is treated the same. He will be surprised how young everyone is, many will be teenagers who have never heard of him.”

Aitken advised Becker, 54, to ask to be transferred to the general wing where he may be given his own cell if officers appreciate he is not a typical prisoner. “My first words of advice would be ‘don’t be afraid, you will get through this’,” Aitken said. “Prison does not have to be a bad experience, even if it is difficult. He will find the milk of human kindness flows abundantly in prison. Do not try to be a tall poppy just because you think you are famous.”

The biggest challenge for a man used to the high life will be boredom. He will be locked in his cell for 16 to 18 hours a day during the week and for 23 hours at weekends. There will be few opportunities for any exercise.

Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons, reported on Wandsworth in January: “There were not enough staff to make sure prisoners received even the most basic regime; for example, they sometimes had to choose between exercise, ordering from the kiosk and having a shower.

“One group of prisoners . . . came blinking into the sunlight [and] told me that it was the first time they had been outside for more than a week.”

Becker arrives to be sentenced.

Becker will perhaps find something in common with much of the prison population - more than half the inmates are not British. Mental illness is common.

“Prison is full of somewhat unhinged people, and he will be approached by people who claim they can arrange for him to be ‘looked after for £100,000’ but there really is no need,” Aitken, 79, said. “A third of prisoners will be keen to ring up tabloid newspapers to sell stories about him.

A view of Wandsworth prison in southwest London.

“Serving a prison sentence is mainly in your mind. The worst thing is realising you have been [an] idiot and have hurt the people who love you the most, like your children. If you blame other people you will have a miserable time.”

As long as Becker behaves he could soon be moved to “open conditions” where he can start planning for his release. He will not be required to serve more than half his 30-month sentence but could be out in less than a year.

The Times