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Former Grand Slam tennis star Bob Hewitt has been jailed for six years by a South African court for raping underage girls, the BBC reports.

Hewitt, 75, was found guilty in March of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault on girls he was coaching in the 1980s and 1990s.

Judge Bert Bam criticised the Australian-born player for not showing remorse during his trial.

He said justice must be seen to be done, even for ageing offenders.

One of the victims who gave evidence at the trial said that Hewitt had assaulted her when she was just 12 years old.

The judge said at the time of Hewitt's conviction that the striking similarities between the three victims' testimonies showed that his conduct was calculated.

Speaking at the sentencing hearing in Pretoria, Hewitt's wife Delaille had begged the court to show mercy and not award a custodial sentence.

Hewitt had testified that he suffered from poor health.