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Boris Becker denies 19 charges over failure to reveal properties, bank accounts and debts worth more than £1 million to insolvency authorities

Boris Becker appears in court - TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images
Boris Becker appears in court - TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images

Boris Becker has appeared in court to deny 19 charges including allegations he failed to reveal properties, bank accounts and debts worth more than £1 million to insolvency authorities.

The 52-year-old German and former singles Wimbledon champion who was declared bankrupt in 2017 was told he faces up to seven years in jail if found guilty of failing to cooperate with official receivers.

Standing in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, the former tennis star spoke clearly to confirm his name, date of birth and South West London address, before denying each of the charges.

Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot released the television sports commentator and Grand Slam winner on conditional bail. He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court next month for a preliminary hearing.

He denied 10 counts of concealing or not disclosing properties he was said to own, hiding a debt of £750,000, not disclosing shares in Breaking Data Corps, and artificial intelligence company.

Boris Becker of Germany kisses the Gentleman's trophy to celebrate his victory over Kevin Curren -  Steve Powell/Allsport/Getty Images
Boris Becker of Germany kisses the Gentleman's trophy to celebrate his victory over Kevin Curren - Steve Powell/Allsport/Getty Images

He also denied failing to reveal he had three JP Morgan bank accounts based in Belgium, another account in Germany and another offshore in Guernsey, as well, a flat in Chelsea along with two properties in Germany. The charges date between May and June 2017.

His bail conditions require him to live at his Battersea home, hand his passport to his lawyers who can release it to him for foreign travel as long as he notifies the Insolvency Service two days before any trip abroad to honour sports commentary contracts.

Mr Becker was declared bankrupt in 2017 shortly before it emerged he was splitting from his wife, Lilly, 44.

Last year, his bankruptcy restrictions were extended by 12 years after it was claimed he had hidden assets and transactions.

He is living under bankruptcy restrictions until 2031. Those restrictions require him to disclose assets, as well as inform lenders of his insolvency if he attempts to borrow more than £500.

The Telegraph revealed earlier this month how Mr Becker was facing criminal charges over claims he failed as someone declared bankrupt to comply with obligations to disclose financial information to official receivers.

The sportsman became the youngest men’s Wimbledon singles champion in 1985 at the age of 17. He won the title three times, collecting a total of 49 singles titles in a career spanning more than two decades.