Retired tennis star, Bob Hewitt sentenced to 6 years in prison for rape.

A South African judge has sentenced Australian born, retired doubles tennis champion Bob Hewitt to six years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

Judge Bert Bam on Monday sentenced Hewitt to eight years in jail for two counts of rape- the rape of two students, with two years suspended. He also sentenced Hewitt to two years in prison for a third charge of sexual assault of a woman.

Bam says the three sentences will be served at the same time, meaning 75-year-old Hewitt should spend up to six effective years in prison.

Hewitt also receives two fines amounting to 100000 rands ($8,500) to state-run campaigns against sexual violence. Hewitt's accusers say he assaulted them in the 1980s and 1990s when they were minors.

Hewitt denied the charges.