The former tennis star and convicted child abuser handed himself in.
It comes just over a week since the Constitutional Court denied the 76-year-old leave to appeal the length of his jail term.
One of Hewitt’s victims, Theresa ‘Twiggy’ Tolken, reacted to the news, saying “my mother and I have been waiting for tomorrow for a very long time. I just wish my dad was around to witness this day”.
Twiggy said Hewitt has tried to evade justice and tried anything at his disposal to stay out of jail for the past few years.
“He has continually lied about his despicable actions.
“The truth always catches up with you and hopefully this is a lesson for other pedophiles out there, don’t ever think you are above the law, you will be caught.
“To all the other victims, don’t be afraid to speak up, there are people and organisations like Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) who will hold you up and support you through your ordeal,”said Twiggy.
The WMACA were at the facility this morning to witness Hewitt handing himself in.
The organisation played an integral part in bringing justice by pressuring the National Prosecuting Authority to put this case on the court roll in 2012, after it had been sitting on the desk of the NPA with no action since 2011.
The group’s director Miranda Friedmann said when Hewitt’s victims started this fight the odds were stacked against them.
“Our organisation has been with the victims throughout the ordeal. I’ve seen their courage first-hand, as well as the toll the process has taken.
“Seeing Hewitt behind bars will be a victory for them.
“When he is finally jailed it will end a fight for justice that has taken five years, including countless delays, extensions and appeals from Hewitt, a process that has put untold stress and heaped extra hurt on his victims,” said Friedmann
She said Hewitt has made numerous attempts to argue his age should mean he should be granted leniency for what he did.
“Now the system needs to keep him in jail for a considerable time, to show historic crimes are as relevant today as they were when they happened, that punishment will be given and that other perpetrators face the same fate if they abuse children.”
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