Bob Hewitt, the former tennis player, was found guilty of one charge of sexual assault and two charges of rape of minors. Hewitt, who won six Grand Slam mixed doubles and nine Grand Slam doubles titles in ‘60s and the ‘70s, was born in Australia but later became a South African citizen.

The 75-year-old was charged in relation with the assault against three underage girls. The alleged incidents took place when Hewitt used to coach children in South Africa in the ‘80s and the ‘90s. According to court hearings, Hewitt allegedly told his victims that rape was an “enjoyable” act “in all cases.” Hewitt earlier pleaded guilty to all charges against him. His doctor said in 2014 that the accused was sick as he had suffered a stroke in 2010 as well as a heart attack in 2011.

Hewitt won the Davis Cup with South Africa in 1974 after he had got married to a South African and settled there. Prior to that, he reached the semi-finals of the men's singles at the Australian Open thrice. Hewitt was earlier accused of sexual abuse by a woman in the United States. She alleged that she had been molested by the former tennis player during her childhood.

Judge Bert Bam at the South Gauteng High Court in Palm Ridge outside Johannesburg found the evidence against the former tennis star as “overwhelming.” He said that he was satisfied that the women who had accused Hewitt of sexual assault and rape were telling the truth. All three victims were gullible young girls who got flattered by the attention of a renowned player like Hewitt.

According to the judge, the similarities among the testimonies of the three alleged victims are striking. Their testimonies also indicated that Hewitt had carried out a calculated plan. “There is such a striking similarity between the evidence against the accused and his modus operandi,” Bam said, “Their submissiveness in the circumstances should never have been seen as consent.”

Hewitt seemed to be impassive about the judge’s decision and the reasons behind it. He was accompanied by his wife who sat near the accused’s bench.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au

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