Hey Dad! actor and convicted paedophile Robert Hughes to be deported after receiving parole

Disgraced Hey Dad! star and convicted paedophile Robert Hughes will be released from Sydney’s Long Bay prison and deported to Britain after being granted parole on Thursday morning.

Hughes, 73, was convicted in 2014 of a string of sexual and indecent assaults on girls in the 1980s and 1990s.

Former Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes outside Central Local Court in 2012.Credit:Wolter Peeters

He has been imprisoned ever since, after being refused parole twice since his non-parole period expired in 2020.

Having renounced his Australian citizenship in 2019, Hughes will be deported to Britain when he is released from prison in a fortnight.

Interpol confirmed authorities there will be notified of his presence and he will be required to report to police within three days of arriving, then annually. Hughes will be required to provide his passport and bank details and notify police of any travel outside the country.

In granting Hughes parole, the State Parole Authority considered that the offences were historical and “took place in particular settings in which the offender abused his power and his position of trust. He no longer enjoys such power or trust, as a direct consequence of the convictions and the consequent widespread adverse publicity.

Robert Hughes leaves court in 2012.Credit:Wolter Peeters

“The key reasons for release were said to be his below average risk of committing sex offences, his ineligibility for sex offender programs together with his family support and accommodation in the UK,” the State Parole Authority’s determination by chairperson David Frearson SC said.

Hughes has always maintained his innocence; his wife also believes him to be innocent, but “she expressed her intention to ensure that the offender does not have unsupervised contact with children. She advised that she intends to encourage him to engage in psychological counselling,” the State Parole Authority said.

Hughes has been assessed as at a medium to low risk of reoffending.

If this article has raised issues for you, support is available by phoning the National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line 1800 737 732; Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491; Lifeline 13 11 14.

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