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Australian coach guilty of sex charges

August 03, 2004 16:11 IST

From rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in sport, Gavin Hopper must now contemplate a jail sentence after the tennis coach and confidante was found guilty of nine sexual charges by an Australian court.

Mark Philippoussis (left) with Gavin HopperA former mentor to Grand Slam champions Monica Seles and Iva Majoli and leading men Mark Philippoussis and Tommy Haas, Hopper was late on Monday found guilty of charges relating to a teenage girl who attended a school where he taught.

The jury at the Victorian County Court found the 48-year-old guilty of three counts of indecent assault and six of gross indecency.

The woman, now 33, told the court she was a student at Wesley College when Hopper taught maths and physical education at the school. The four-year affair began in 1985, the court was told.

Hopper, a professor of sports science and author who now runs a tennis academy on Queensland's Gold Coast with Australia's 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, denied having a sexual relationship with the girl.

His lawyers have said they will appeal the decision.

Hopper, a married father of two girls aged 13 and nine, was remanded in custody for sentencing at a later date.



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