Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes released from jail to be deported to UK

Former actor and convicted child sex offender Robert Hughes spent hours in an immigration holding cell on Tuesday to be deported to the UK.

Disgraced Hey Dad! and convicted child sex offender Robert Hughes was in an immigration holding cell on Tuesday waiting to be deported to the UK after his release from custody contemplating spending the rest of his years with his wife.

The septuagenarian actor, who was incarcerated in 2014 after being convicted of 10 sexual and indecent assault charges in the 1980s, left Long Bay jail at 5am on and spent several hours in immigration custody awaiting to board a flight to London where his family resides.

The State Parole Authority granted him parole on June 2 at 10am.

Hughes, 73, renounced his Australian citizenship in 2019 to become a non-lawful citizen meaning he must be deported upon release from Long Bay jail where he has been serving the last years of his sentence.

Australian Border Force is facilitating his deportation but refused to comment on Hughes’ ejection saying: “We do not comment on individual cases.”

Robert Hughes outside Downing Centre Court with his wife Robyn Gardiner during his trial. Picture: Adam Taylor

The TV, film and theatre actor will be free to integrate in the community where he will live and will be monitored.

He has been told he must inform Interpol of his address, holiday plans and movements when in the UK.

Hey Dad! cast in 1992: Ben Oxenbould, Julie McGregor, Sarah Monahan, Robert Hughes, Rachael Beck and Matthew Krok.

Hughes has vociferously denied the sex claims.

He has been behind bars since May 2014 for sexually and indecently assaulting four girls, including young co-star Sarah Monahan, over a period of 20 years in the 1980s and 1990s.

In mid-March 2020 the SPA rejected his request for release for the second time arguing he “presents as an unacceptable risk to community safety” amid concerns for the complexities and seriousness of his offences.

The board members at the time called for a comprehensive psychological assessment of his risk of sexual reoffending and an additional report from Community Corrections.

Hughes was handed a minimum sentence of six years and has been eligible for parole since April 2020.

Former Hey Dad! actress Sarah Monahan. Picture: Tim Hunter.

A former Sydney Morning Herald cadet, he was extradited from the United Kingdom in 2012 to face the court proceedings.

He held dual citizenship but renounced his Australian citizenship in December 2019.

The father of one daughter and grandfather to two courts the support of family members but sources say they have not visited him in jail for several years.

His celebrity agent wife Robyn Gardiner has promised to support him and arranged for him to live with her in London upon his return.

While she protests his innocence, she has said she will ensure he does not have unsupervised contact with children and will guide him to take up counselling.

Hughes will be required to report to police within three days of his return to the UK, and thereafter annually, or within three days of personal details changing – or he will face six months in jail.

Robert Hughes will be deported on Tuesday.

He will be required to provide passport and banking details and must notify police of any intention to travel outside the UK.

He must also provide details of where he lives and where he stays if different to his home address and inform police of whenever he stays at a property where a child resides.

A Corrective Services report conducted in April labels Hughes a “categorical denier who lacks victim empathy”.

A psychologist on October 14, 2019 diagnosed moderate density criminogenic needs and concluded significant social influences.

While in NSW Hughes must not contact, communicate with, watch, stalk, harass or intimidate the victims or their families.

He cannot be in the company of anyone under the age of 16, unless accompanied by a responsible adult, or visit multiple areas of Sydney including Lane Cove and Hornsby.