Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker was freed from jail today and will be deported from the UK back to Germany.
The former world No 1 was declared bankrupt on June 21, 2017 - owing creditors almost £50 million. The debt related to an unpaid loan of more than £3 million on his estate in Majorca.
In March this year, the German icon went on trial at Southwark Crown Court having been charged with illegally failing to hand over trophies in satisfaction of his debt during his bankruptcy. After being found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act, he was sentenced to two-and-a-half-years imprisonment.
Becker, who has lived in the UK since 2012, had been expected to serve half of his sentence, but was sensationally released on Thursday morning. He is now due to board a flight to be deported from the UK.
The 55-year-old began his jail term at HM Prison Wandsworth before he was reportedly transferred to Huntercombe Prison in May. The lower security jail is used for foreign criminals who are awaiting deportation at their culmination of their sentence.
Becker, who won six Grand Slam titles overall, qualifies for automatic deportation because he is a foreign national who does not have British citizenship - and received a custodial sentence of more than 12 months.
Despite the apparent shattering of his reputation, Becker had received high profile support in tennis circles this year. At Wimbledon, both John McEnroe and Sue Barker opted to pay tribute to their former BBC colleague during the Centre Court anniversary celebrations.
Novak Djokovic, whom Becker coached in a highly successful stint from 2014-2016, also came out in support of his former guru. The Serbian described himself as "heartbroken" by the outcome of his trial.
Earlier this week Becker's 87-year-old mum, Elvira, reacted to reports her son was to be deported back to Germany by saying: "This is the best Christmas present I could hope for."
