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Tennis coach 'wrote L for loser on daughter's face' | Tennis coach 'wrote L for loser on daughter's face' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A tennis coach wrote "L for loser" on his daughter's face in permanent marker in his obsessive bid to make her a Wimbledon champion, a jury heard. | A tennis coach wrote "L for loser" on his daughter's face in permanent marker in his obsessive bid to make her a Wimbledon champion, a jury heard. |
John De'Viana, 55, is accused of subjecting his daughters Monaei and Nephe to years of physical and emotional abuse. | John De'Viana, 55, is accused of subjecting his daughters Monaei and Nephe to years of physical and emotional abuse. |
Jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court heard he swore and hit the girls if they didn't perform well in matches. | |
Mr De'Viana, from Illford, East London, denies two counts of child cruelty. | Mr De'Viana, from Illford, East London, denies two counts of child cruelty. |
Monaei De'Viana told his trial: "He was always coach, he was never actually dad. He was awful to me." | Monaei De'Viana told his trial: "He was always coach, he was never actually dad. He was awful to me." |
She described an incident when she was aged nine or 10 in which her father allegedly wrote "L for loser" on her face at a training session and locked her in a caravan. | She described an incident when she was aged nine or 10 in which her father allegedly wrote "L for loser" on her face at a training session and locked her in a caravan. |
'Punched and kicked' | 'Punched and kicked' |
The 21-year-old told jurors of another incident after a tournament where he was "hitting me around the head, shaking my head and screaming at me". | The 21-year-old told jurors of another incident after a tournament where he was "hitting me around the head, shaking my head and screaming at me". |
About five years later, Ms De'Viana said she had a panic attack after her father stormed out of a match because she was losing. | About five years later, Ms De'Viana said she had a panic attack after her father stormed out of a match because she was losing. |
He then bought fish and chips but threw hers away, leaving her without food that evening, the court heard. | He then bought fish and chips but threw hers away, leaving her without food that evening, the court heard. |
Her sister Nephe, now 19, said he punched and kicked her after one training session, with his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. | Her sister Nephe, now 19, said he punched and kicked her after one training session, with his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. |
She was once a poster girl for the Lawn Tennis Association and featured on their adverts alongside Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, the court heard. | She was once a poster girl for the Lawn Tennis Association and featured on their adverts alongside Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, the court heard. |
Mr De'Viana's defence council, Tara Adkin QC, told Monaei: "Your father says he never swore at you or put you down because that wouldn't have made you any better, it would damage your confidence." | Mr De'Viana's defence council, Tara Adkin QC, told Monaei: "Your father says he never swore at you or put you down because that wouldn't have made you any better, it would damage your confidence." |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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