Paedophile Hall is freed on a tag after just 2½ years
DISGRACED broadcaster Stuart Hall has been released on a tag to celebrate Christmas at home after serving half of his jail term for abusing young girls.
His victims were furious after it emerged that paedophile Hall was secretly transferred to a different prison to avoid Press photographers before being released in the early hours of yesterday.
He apparently hoped to celebrate his release with haddock and chips and a bottle of Bollinger.
A former fellow inmate at Wymott prison, near Preston, revealed: ‘He’s been counting the days and telling people that champagne and fish and chips are the things he’s missed most – as well as a comfy bed.’
Hall, 85, who was described as an ‘opportunist predator’ in court, was reportedly hoping to move to Spain – where he owns a home – after his release.
However, it is understood the former It’s A Knockout host has been banned from doing so under the terms of his parole.
Just three months before admitting attacks on 13 girls – aged between nine and 17 – Hall signed over the deeds to his house to his wife.
At the time, he was accused of trying to protect his fortune from compensation claims.
After his conviction, it emerged he tried to offer the victims ‘paltry’ out- of- court settlements, for which they had to undergo gruelling psychological testing.
Hall, who is now free to toast his 86th birthday on Christmas Day with his family, was sneaked out of jail under the cover of darkness to avoid photogra- phers on Tuesday at 5pm. He was then taken to a remand centre at HMP Manchester before being released in the early hours of yesterday, after half of his fiveyear jail term.
His treatment angered victims including Susan Harrison, who
‘Opportunist
predator’
waived her right to anonymity. She said: ‘I don’t think he should have been treated any differently from any other prisoners.’
Hall – who will be on a tag for the next two-and-a-half years and on the sex offenders’ register for life – was arrested on December 5, 2012, at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire. After ini- tially denying the allegations, in May 2013 he pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting 13 girls between 1967 and 1985.
He was handed a 15-month jail sentence – which prompted such outrage that it was subsequently doubled on appeal.
Then in September 2013, while Hall was in prison, two more women accused him of historic abuse. The following May he was convicted of one more charge of indecent assault and handed a further 30-month prison sentence.
Hall’s wife Hazel, 77, has moved out of their four-bedroom home which is on the market for £995,000 – reduced from £1.2million. Last night there appeared to be no one at his Spanish property. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said it was unable to comment.