Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes sentencing: Victims tell court they are still suffering

THE victims of former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes say they are still suffering the consequences of his abuse, with one woman telling a court “I wish you nothing but misery.”

hey Dad! star Robert Hughes outside Downing Centre Local Court.

THE victims of former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes say they are still suffering the consequences of his abuse, with one woman telling a court “I wish you nothing but misery.”

The 65-year-old appeared thinner and fatigued as he emerged in the dock this morning for the start of a sentencing hearing in the Sydney District Court.

He was convicted by a jury last month of 10 counts of sexual and indecent assault, and immediately taken into custody.

A police officer read aloud three impact statements from victims, including former child actor Sarah Monahan Morris- who played his daughter on the popular TV series.

Ms Morris said in her statement that she left the entertainment industry, never to return, because she wondered “who was going to sexually harass me, who would cover it up and who would be forced out to keep the star happy.”

“(Since her time on Hey Dad!) acting has made me feel vulnerable and dirty.”

Other victims said the crimes, inflicted on them as children, made them forever fearful of the dark, while another said as a child she never wanted Santa to come into her room on Christmas Eve because she was scared.

Another victim, who was assaulted in her bedroom by the actor in the 1980s, said she had previously “thought it was normal” to be fearful of strangers and people walking behind her.

“It’s not okay to be treated like this,” her statement said.

A woman who was assaulted at the Hughes family home said “I never thought I’d see this day ... for you to be held accounting, for me to be acknowledged, for me to be vindicated.”

Her statement said that she always left the room or switched the television off when she heard Hughes’ voice on advertisements “or the opening theme bars of Hey Dad!”

“I wish you nothing but misery,” she said.

The final impact statement was read by the father of a victim, who was also assaulted at the actor’s home while under his supervision.

“The impact of this is immeasurable,” the statement said.

“This can never be changed, nor given back to me.

“I will never know what my life would have been like had this not happened.”

Hughes’ wife Robyn Gardiner, who gave evidence in his defence during the trial, has prepared an affidavit as part of the sentencing submissions but isn’t in court for today’s submissions.

The hearing continues before Judge Peter Zahra.