Irish Sunday Mirror

Jailing dad Boris is just not fair on my little brother

Becker’s daughter says his son, 12, is devastated

- BY PATRICK HILL scoops@sundaymirr­or.co.uk

BORIS Becker’s daughter has told how she begged a judge not to jail her dad, for the sake of his 12-year-old son.

Anna Ermakova fears for her half-brother Amadeus – who was pictured emotionall­y hugging his dad hours before he was jailed for two-and-a-half years on Friday.

She said: “I tried to help as best I could by writing a letter to the court expressing my concern for my younger brother Amadeus.

“He is only 12 and he’s not going to have a paternal figure to support him at such a crucial time in a young person’s life.

“He’s going to start a new school soon making new friends and that’s hard enough as it is.”

But Judge Deborah Taylor rejected Anna’s plea for leniency, as well as a letter from Boris’ mother Elvira, 87, who had described her tennis legend son as a “decent boy overall”.

Becker will have to serve at least half his sentence for fraudulent­ly hiding almost €3million of assets and loans to avoid paying debts.

VERDICT

Anna, 22, a model, said: “Honestly I’m in shock about my father’s sentence. I wasn’t really expecting it at all.

“I was actually on the phone with my brothers after the verdict. We were in shock.”

Anna was conceived during an infamous encounter between Becker and Russian model Angela Ermakova in a broom cupboard in London’s Nobu restaurant in 1999.

Anna added: “I have been trying to support [my father] on the phone as best I can.

“I hope he is strong in such a difficult time in his life. I will support him and visit him whenever I can.”

The Nobu scandal destroyed Becker’s first marriage to Barbara and reportedly cost €13million.

He has two sons Noah, 27, and Elias, 22, with Barbara. His youngest son Amadeus is with his second wife, Dutch model Lilly Kerssenber­g. They split in 2018. He is currently dating political risk analyst Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, who supported him during his trial.

Becker, 54, spent Friday night on a 24-hour reception wing at HMP Wandsworth, south London, just three miles from his own home and the All England Tennis Club where he became Wimbledon’s youngest-ever men’s singles winner in 1985 at 17.

He had told jurors at Southwark Crown Court he earned over €44million in a glittering career that included two more Wimbledon singles titles.

But his earnings were swallowed up by his divorce from Barbara, as well as child maintenanc­e, poor investment­s and “expensive lifestyle commitment­s”. He was declared bankrupt in 2017, owing almost €55million.

He’s only 12 and he’s not going to have a paternal figure at such a crucial time ANNA ERMAKOVA DAUGHTER OF TENNIS LEGEND BORIS BECKER

 ?? ?? SUPPORT Boris at court with girlfriend Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro ‘IN SHOCK’ Model daughter Anna
TRAUMA Star kisses son Amadeus before sentence
SUPPORT Boris at court with girlfriend Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro ‘IN SHOCK’ Model daughter Anna TRAUMA Star kisses son Amadeus before sentence

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