Convicted child sex offender and actor Robert Hughes to be deported to UK

The 73-year-old, who played the titular role in the sitcom Hey Dad!, renounced his Australian citizenship in 2020.

Actor and convicted child sex offender Robert Hughes is set to be released from a correctional facility and deported from Australia to the UK (Alex Britton/PA) (PA Archive)

Actor and convicted child sex offender Robert Hughes will be deported from Australia to the UK following his release from a correctional facility.

Hughes, 73, was imprisoned in 2014 after being found guilty of 10 sexual and indecent assault offences committed between 1984 and 1990.

The New South Wales state parole authority granted Hughes, the star of Australian sitcom Hey Dad!, parole on June 2 and determined he be released no later than Tuesday June 14.

It said it had accepted evidence Hughes had consistently been assessed as a below average risk of sexually reoffending.

Hughes and wife had given undertakings that once back in the community Hughes would seek treatment with a clinical psychologist specialising in convicted sex offenders who deny their crimes, to assist with his reintegration and reduce his risk of reoffending

New South Wales state parole authority

He will be deported to the UK on his release from prison as he is a non-lawful citizen in Australia, having renounced his Australian citizenship in 2020.

Hey Dad! aired from 1987 to 1994.

Hughes’ victims include a family friend, friends of his daughter and a child actor who worked with him.

The state parole authority said that, although Hughes denies the offences, the assessment prevents him from accessing sex offender treatment programmes while he remains in custody.

“Hughes and wife had given undertakings that once back in the community Hughes would seek treatment with a clinical psychologist specialising in convicted sex offenders who deny their crimes, to assist with his reintegration and reduce his risk of reoffending,” it added.

The parole authority chairperson, David Frearson SC, said the authority acknowledged the “profound and deleterious effects on the victims… continue to this day and will probably be lifelong consequences”.

“It must be particularly galling for the victims to observe the offender’s continued and obstinate denials in the face of compelling and overwhelming evidence from multiple witnesses,” he added.