According to his own statement, ex-tennis pro Boris Becker hardened his time behind bars and made him a better person. “I’m a survivor, I’m a tough dog,” the 55-year-old said in a BBC interview over Easter weekend. “If anything, it’s made me a better, stronger man.” In mid-December, Becker was released in England following 231 days behind bars.
The tennis star was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in London at the end of April 2022 for concealing assets worth millions from his insolvency administrators. The reason for the early release was a special regulation for foreign prisoners. However, Becker must continue to cede part of his income to the insolvency administrator. In addition, he is not allowed to return to his adopted country of Great Britain for the time being.
“Anyone who says life behind bars isn’t hard and difficult is lying,” Becker told the BBC. “It was very brutal, a very, very different experience than what you see on TV and hear in stories.” He quickly learned that he needed protection and had to surround himself with “tough guys”. “You fight to survive every day.”
At the start of his incarceration, Becker spent a few weeks in Wandsworth Prison, which was notorious for its poor conditions. He was then transferred to Huntercombe Prison, which has a lower security rating.
