Former West Ham player Tomas Repka has been given a 15-month prison sentence for selling cars that do not belong to him. Czech Republic international Repka spent five seasons at Upton Park, making 167 appearances, before returning home in 2006 to join Sparta Prague. A court in Prague found the 45-year-old, labelled by Hammers fans as “Red Card Repka”, guilty of fraud after selling a luxury rental car to a woman which he was only renting at the time.
In a deal Repka signed, the former Czech Republic international promised to return the money if the ownership was not transferred to the woman, but he did not do that. The initial sentencing is not final and both Repka’s lawyer and the state prosecutor immediately appealed. It’s not the first time Repka has been in trouble, as he previously received a six-month jail term after being found guilty of revenge porn attacks on his ex-wife.
Ms Erbova said: “I collapsed when I found out who had done it. I could not sleep. I needed to see a psychiatrist, and I am going into therapy.”
Repka blamed the incident on the fact that his ex-wife had not been granting him access to his children.
He said: “I’m sorry – it was wrong of me. But my relationship with my ex-wife was not good. I wasn’t able to see my son, and the situation escalated.”
Repka appealed the sentence and it was later changed to community service. He has also twice received suspended sentences for drink driving. The player’s current partner, TV presenter Katerina Kristelova, was fined 50,000 crowns – £1,750 – for her part in the attack. Her sentence was later overturned and she was handed a three-month jail sentence, which was suspended for a year.
The former Fiorentina player became West Ham’s then record signing when he joined for £5.5million in 2001. The now-retired centre-back was sent off 20 times during his turbulent career but became a cult figure in East London during his five years at the club.