Boris Becker sentenced to jail over bankruptcy charges

Six-time men's singles Grand Slam champion Boris Becker has been sentenced to two and a half years of prison after being found guilty of four violations of the Insolvency Act. He will require to serve at least half of that sentence inside prison. He also failed to declare a property in Germany and concealed 825,000 euros ($866,500) of debt and shares in a tech firm. He was acquitted earlier this month of a further 20 charges, including nine counts of failing to hand over trophies and medals he won during his glittering tennis career. Becker told jurors he did not know the whereabouts of the memorabilia, including two of his three Wimbledon men's singles trophies. Judge Deborah Taylor had released Becker -- who won Wimbledon as an unseeded teenager -- on conditional bail ahead of her sentencing decision on Friday. He arrived early for the hearing, wearing a striped purple and green tie in the Wimbledon colors, a white shirt, and a charcoal grey suit.

Becker was also convicted of failing to declare a property in Germany as well as hiding an 825,000 bank loan and shares in a technology firm. The German tennis legend won his first Grand Slam title at the age of 17 when he lifted the Wimbledon title in 1985 and, as a result, became an instant star in the sport. After that, he went on to win two more titles at the All England Club before winning the Australian and the US Open. And that is not it, as Becker also won three year-end championships, 13 Masters series and Olympic gold for his country in 1992.