March saw disgraced former tennis champion Bob Hewitt convicted of rape, with sentencing finally passed down today. Unfortunately for Hewitt and his wife Delaille, the judge was not in a forgiving mood, sentencing Hewitt to an effective six years in jail.

Judge Bert Bam delivered the verdict earlier in the Pretoria High Court, citing the fact that there were no prospects of rehabilitation as one of the reasons for incarceration. Here’s News24:

On Count 1, for rape, he received an eight-year prison term, suspended for two years on condition that he pay R50 000 to the department of justice to use in campaigns against violence against women.

On Count 2, also for rape, he received the same sentence.

On the charge of sexual assault, he received two years suspended.

The judge also said that were Hewitt a younger man in his fifties (he is currently 75) the sentence would have upwards of 20 years. Hewitt’s ailing health was given as one reason for a shortened sentence as he has suffered a stroke and undergone various operations in recent times.

His wife Delaille gave an impassioned plea for leniency, begging for her husband to avoid jail time:

My Lord, I have never had to beg before but I am asking you from the bottom of my heart to please let my husband return to the farm as I could not survive without him.

She too has suffered health setbacks of late and is currently recovering from ovarian cancer.

6-0 to the South African justice system then.

[source:news24]