Arsenal legend Jens Lehmann accepts guilty verdict in ‘chainsaw trial’

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has been ordered to pay a fine of €135,000 (£112,500) after accepting a guilty verdict for property damage and attempted fraud.

The 54-year-old is alleged to have used a chainsaw to cut through the roof beams of a garage on his neighbour’s property located at Lake Starnberg in July 2022.

Lehmann felt that the building had obstructed his view of the lake and was also accused of cutting the cable of a surveillance camera, however, this continued to operate on battery power and filmed him.

The case against Lehmann also involved two incidents in a car park at Munich Airport. Lehmann was accused of driving his car bumper to bumper out of the car park in order to avoid paying the parking fee.

In December 2023, the Starnberg District Court sentenced Lehmann to a fine of €420,000 (£350,000). Both Lehmann and the public prosecutor’s office appealed against this. The prosecution had even demanded a suspended prison sentence for the former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper.

In a hearing on Friday, Lehmann accepted a guilty verdict meaning that the court only had to determine the extent of his fine, which was reduced to €135,000 (£112,500).

Prosecutor Stefan Kreutzer said that Lehmann ‘obviously believes he is above the law’.

Lehmann’s defence attorney, Florian Ufer, said: ‘Mr Lehmann accepts responsibility. He has come to an agreement with his neighbour. The parking fees have been paid.’

A statement given to German media outside the court from Lehmann’s legal team read: ‘Today’s decision is a very good result.

‘The previous district court verdict was excessive, as today’s reduction of the fine by around 70 per cent clearly shows.’

Laurent Lafleur, spokesman for the Munich district court, said: ‘This is not the same as a confession. The guilty verdict from the first instance was simply accepted.’

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