Forum Topic

Boris Becker Sentenced

To 2/12 years in prison!🙀

Sue Hammond ● 1375d21 Comments

Harder to reduce status for children perhaps.  Plenty of responsibility but mostly inbthe past surely?

Philippa Bond ● 1370d

For a moment there, Penelope, I wondered if you were referring to another Boris...

Richard Carter ● 1373d

Judge said he showed no remorse... Thought he could get away with spending other people's money, sentence fits the crime, shame on him,financial history on not paying tax and concealing assets, a sh*t, sorry for all his children

Penelope Becker ● 1373d

Some of the guardianitas will get excited when they see the headline Boris imprisoned'  As presumably Naga Munchetty ( not certain of spelling ) was when she reported Boris Johnson had been imprisoned..Wishful thinking perhaps

Barbara Shillabeer ● 1374d

"All the more reason why a prison sentence probably inappropriate and no use to anybody?"I am sure that that is true in very many cases. But blowing £38 million?"Becker had told the jury his career earnings of $50m (about £38 million) were spent on an expensive divorce from his first wife in 2001, child maintenance payments, and "expensive lifestyle commitments", including his £22,000-a-month rented house in Wimbledon, south-west London.The trial also revealed Becker's taste for designer clothes, shopping in Harrods and that he was spending thousands on his children's school fees. He said his income had "reduced dramatically" following his retirement in 1999." (BBC)Is that a case for mitigation or is it an aggravating feature?

David Ainsworth ● 1374d

I dont think we are arguing that he should not have been convicted. Making him do something useful would seem more sensible than imprisoning him on taxpayers’ expense.

Jane Carter ● 1374d

On top of his previous guilty verdict in a German court for financial misdemeaners I'm not sure I'd waste any sympathy on him.The judge in sentencing referred to him as arrogant and dishonest.Interesting this outpouring of sympathy for a twice convicted crook.

Andy Pike ● 1374d

Yes probably dodgy advice. All the more reason why a prison sentence probably inappropriate and no use to anybody?

Jane Carter ● 1374d

"Surely he would have had a financial advisor/manager?"Surely he did. But is that any guarantee of anything?"The six-time Grand Slam champion has denied all the charges, saying he had cooperated with trustees tasked with securing his assets — even offering up his wedding ring — and had acted on expert advice." (NPR.org)"and had acted on expert advice".

David Ainsworth ● 1374d

i would not have thought Becker was either stupid or arrogant. I dont really understand how he got himself in this situation. Surely he would have had a financial advisor/manager?

Jane Carter ● 1374d

I suppose it is meant to be/may be a lesson to rich arrogant and entitled people that you can't always get away with everything.  I completely agree about about coaching less well off kids but you'd first have to find the available sports facilities in good repair which we are sadly lacking across the whole of the UK.  Wandsworth must have a big proportion of the UK's tennis courts and might give a false impression of the numbers available to less well off children elsewhere across the UK.  Privatising Council sports facilities and building on sports fields and metropolitan open land doesn't encourage and make it easier for the youth of today to casually engage in sport.

Philippa Bond ● 1375d

Yes, Jane and Sue, that would have been a far better idea. He's hardly a threat to society so incarceration doesn't seem necessary, he's just being detained at the expense of the taxpayer. Will it act as a deterrent; probably not, I suspect most people who commit this type of crime are either stupid or arrogant?

Michael Ixer ● 1375d

That would be much more sensible Jane and what a thrill for the kids involved, and he might even discover a future tennis champion!

Sue Hammond ● 1375d

"It really is irritating."Would you say mildly, moderately, or excessively? (It will help me calibrate).

David Ainsworth ● 1375d

Mr Pike, why do you feel it necessary to post unrelated rubbish?

David Ainsworth ● 1375d

Yes I always enjoyed his commentary. I suppose he has to be given a custodial sentence to deter others but I would much prefer to see him have to do something socially useful like spending two years teaching/coaching young, less well off tennis players in deprived areas

Jane Carter ● 1375d

Why do you feel it necessary to change the response title and then post unrelated rubbish?🙄 It really is irritating.

Sue Hammond ● 1375d

Keep him out of prison for now. I want to see how it all pans out.------------Report on officer:-"His men would follow him anywhere, but only out of morbid curiosity."

David Ainsworth ● 1375d

Some of the guardianistas will get excited when they see the headlineBoris imprisoned

Andy Pike ● 1375d

Yes it could have been a 7 stretch.  How the mighty fall.  Will miss his commentary at Wimbledon though.

Sue Hammond ● 1375d

Good job, actually got off lightly.

Andy Pike ● 1375d