Jens Lehmann fined €135,000 for damaging neighbour’s garage with chainsaw

The former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has been fined €135,000 (£113,000) by a court in his hometown of Starnberg for damaging his neighbour’s garage with a chainsaw.

Lehmann, who was accused by the public prosecutor of sawing off a roof beam in the garage, was initially fined €420,000 (£351,000) over the July 2022 incident, which was reduced on appeal.

“Mr Lehmann accepts responsibility. He has come to an agreement with his neighbour,” German media quoted Lehmann’s lawyer Florian Ufer as saying following Friday’s decision. Lehmann, who was also accused of avoiding payment of parking fees at Munich airport, has now paid them, Ufer added.

Judge Tanja Walter said that the 54-year-old had “consistently portrayed himself as a victim of the justice system”, but added that he was “not a victim, he is a perpetrator”. Stefan Kreutzer, the public prosecutor, added that Lehmann’s behaviour proved “that he obviously believes he is above the law”.

Earlier this year, Lehmann bought the branding rights to ‘the Invincibles’, completing the purchase of the trademark used for Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning season of 2003-04 before of its 20th anniversary.