About half a year after entering prison, the convicted ex-tennis star Boris Becker is doing “according to the circumstances well”, according to his lawyer. Becker “fits constructively into everyday prison life,” said his German lawyer Christian-Oliver Moser. His client can make calls and communicate with the outside world at any time.
Becker was sentenced to two and a half years in prison on April 29 at London’s Southwark Crown Court. He had concealed assets worth millions from his insolvency administrators.
Becker spent the first few weeks in Wandsworth Prison in south London, which was notorious for overcrowding, filth and violence. He then moved to Huntercombe Prison, some 70km from London, which has a lower security rating. Inmates have more freedom at the Asylum for Foreign Men Delinquents than under the high-security conditions at Wandsworth.
According to the prison, around 480 men live there in single and communal cells. They should have the opportunity to continue their education and do sports. Whether Becker makes use of it is unknown. “Further details of his prison stay are protected privately,” the lawyer said.
It is also uncertain when Becker will be allowed to leave prison and how his life will continue afterwards. The verdict stated that the second half of the prison sentence – i.e. possibly 15 months – could probably be suspended on probation.
“It is also currently unclear whether and, if so, when he will be deported to Germany,” said Moser. The British Home Office declined to comment on the Becker case in early summer, but issued a general statement: “Any foreign national who has been sentenced to prison for a criminal offense is eligible for deportation at the earliest possible opportunity.”
From: APA/dpa
