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Disgraced former Grand Slam tennis champion Bob Hewitt plans to defend himself against charges that he sexually abused young girls he coached decades ago, then sue them.
Durban – South African tennis star Bob Hewitt has been issued a summons following allegations of sexual abuse of underage girls in South Africa and the US, and will appear in court in South Africa in August.
After months of intensive police investigation, the National Prosecuting Authority has decided to proceed with the case and Hewitt is due to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on August 16 on charges of rape and indecent assault.
NPA spokeswoman Phindi Louw confirmed that a summons had been served on Hewitt.
The primary complainant in the case, Suellen Sheehan, 44, of Joburg, said she had been advised of the NPA’s decision. Sheehan laid a charge against Hewitt in December 2011 after coming forward with her allegations.
“My message is for children out there: never be afraid to speak out – someone will hear and believe you,” said Sheehan this week.
Another of his alleged victims, Twiggy Tolken, 45, also confirmed she had been advised that Hewitt was to appear in court.
Now living in New Zealand, Tolken said: “The time has come for the law to take its course. One cannot affect the lives of so many in such a heinous way and expect to get away with it. Let justice prevail.”
In November last year, Hewitt fell from grace among the tennis greats when the International Tennis Hall of Fame indefinitely suspended him because of the allegations, following a lengthy inquiry by the Hall of Fame’s lawyers, led by Michael Connolly, a former federal prosecutor and a partner in US law firm Hinckly Allen and Snyder.
The sexual abuse allegations first surfaced in September 2011, when former US professional tennis player Heather Crowe Conner spoke out about the abuse which allegedly took place when she was 15 and being coached by Hewitt.
While she did not name Hewitt specifically, she described him as 36 years old at the time, saying he was known as a famous doubles player, had been inducted in the Hall of Fame and now lived in South Africa.
Hewitt was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992 along with his doubles partner Frew McMillan. They were the only South Africans to have received the honour. Other inductees include great champions like John McEnroe, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Andre Agassi.
Crowe Conner alleged she was coerced into sex with Hewitt for the first time near the tennis courts at Masconomet Regional High School in Topsfield, Massachusetts, when she had just turned 15.
Meanwhile Tolken still has letters Hewitt allegedly wrote to her while they were at a tournament when she was 12 .
Tolken said she had told her parents what had happened between herself and Hewitt.
“My father laid charges at the Bedfordview police station. He was then told by the attorney-general and our lawyer they would make mincemeat out of me, as this was Bob Hewitt and I was a little girl.”
Hewitt has repeatedly refused to comment, but in an interview with You magazine, he denied all the allegations made against him.
The Mercury
