Ex-West Ham ace Tomas Repka given death threats as he arrives in prison on two-year fraud sentence
WEST HAM legend Tomas Repka faced inmates’ cries of “You will die here” and “Welcome to hell” as he was jailed for two years over fraud.
The hardman ex-Czech Republic defender who picked up 18 red cards, was convicted of selling a Mercedes Benz lease car for £41,000 in December 2016.
Repka arrived at Ruzyne prison in Prague today wearing dark sunglasses and carrying a black holdall after an appeal court added nine months to his 15-month sentence.
Head down, the 45-year-old ducked reporters’ questions and mostly avoided photographers but was greeted with brutal taunts from prisoners.
Repka’s lawyer Jaroslav Jankrle revealed the former Fiorentina and Sparta Prague star had expected a lighter sentence.
He said Repka “had been more optimistic regarding the result”.
But the troubled ex-centre-back has been walking a fine line for the past four years.
In 2015 and 2016 he was given a suspended sentence for drink-driving, and community service for not paying alimony to his former wife.
Then last year Repka was jailed for six months after publishing a fake escort girl ad with his ex-wife’s photo and phone number.
That sentence was downgraded to his second stint of community service.
Today completed a spectacular fall from on-pitch stardom for a man who won 46 caps.
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Repka is best-known in this country for his spell with the Hammers from 2001-2006.
After his 167th and final West Ham game – a 2-1 win over Fulham – he left the field in tears to chants of “Super Tom” from the Upton Park crowd.
Repka departed so he could return to his family in the Czech Republic for the last eight years of his career.