Robert Hughes Refused Parole

Thursday 4 February 2021

The State Parole Authority (SPA) today refused parole for offender Robert Hughes.

At his anniversary parole meeting, the Authority panel determined he remains an unacceptable risk to community safety.

This is the second time the SPA has denied the offender parole.

Hughes renounced his Australian citizenship and would face immediate deportation to his native UK upon release from custody.

As NSW and the UK do not have reciprocal arrangements for parolees, if granted parole, Hughes would not be subject to any supervision or monitoring by UK authorities or be compelled to comply with any conditions ordered by the Authority.

Last year, Hughes also withdrew his application for an international prisoner transfer which would have seen him serve a further period of his head sentence in the UK before release to parole, with supervision and monitoring by UK authorities.

Today, the SPA again determined releasing him to parole without the possibility of supervision or conditions would not meet the community safety test, as required under the legislation.

Hughes was sentenced to a maximum sentence of 10 years and nine months, expiring 6 January 2025.

His non-parole period of six years expired in 2020.

Media inquiries: 0418203950 or media.SPA@justice.nsw.gov.au