Hey Dad! star’s third parole bid
CONVICTED pedophile and exAustralian TV star Robert Hughes should be released from prison because there is a low risk he will reoffend, a court has been told.
The 73-year-old former star of sitcom Hey Dad!, who was described as looking old and frail, is serving a 10-year and nine-month prison sentence for historic child sex offences.
His six-year non-parole period expired in 2020 and the NSW State Parole Authority has twice refused him parole.
The authority held a public hearing in Sydney on Friday after earlier requesting a psychological report about Hughes’ risk of reoffending.
Addressing the hearing, Hughes’ legal representative said he had “consistently been assessed as either medium, below risk or low risk of reoffending”.
If parole is granted Hughes will be immediately deported to the UK after he renounced his Australian citizenship and the federal government cancelled his residency visa.
While in jail, Hughes claimed he was subject to constant verbal and physical abuse that included excrement, urine and boiling water being thrown over him.
Hughes’ sentence is due to expire on January 6, 2025.
The parole board has reserved its decision.