11:09 AM ET

Boris Becker was sentenced to 2 years in prison for hiding assets after he was declared bankrupt.

The three-time Wimbledon champion had faced a maximum sentence of seven years in prison after he was convicted of four charges under the insolvency act.

Judge Deborah Taylor heard arguments from the prosecutor and Becker's attorney before announcing the sentence.

The 54-year-old German was found to have transferred hundreds of thousands of pounds from his business account to other accounts, including those of his ex-wife Barbara and estranged wife Sharlely Becker.

Becker was found guilty of hiding a bank loan and shares in a tech firm.

He was acquitted of 20 other counts, including charges that he failed to hand over his many awards.

Becker walked into the courthouse hand in hand with his girlfriend.

The six-time Grand Slam champion denied all the charges, saying he had cooperated with trustees tasked with securing his assets, and had acted on expert advice.

Rebecca Chalkley said at the sentencing hearing that Becker had acted deliberately and dishonestly, and that he was still seeking to blame others.

Jonathan Laidlaw argued that his client had not spent money on alavish lifestyle but on child support, rent and legal expenses. Becker has no future earnings potential, he told the court.

According to testimony at the trial, Becker had a private bank loan and a British businessman loan in the same year.

Becker said his career earnings had been swallowed up by payments for an expensive divorce and debts when he lost large chunks of his income after retirement.

Becker became the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon singles title when he was 17 years old. He has lived in Britain.