Robert Hughes (actor) explained

Robert Hughes
Children:1 daughter
Birth Name:Robert Lindsay Hughes
Birth Date:19 August 1948
Birth Place:Sydney, Australia
Nationality:British
Known For:Hey Dad..!,
Conviction:Two counts of sexual assault, seven counts of indecent assault and one count of committing an indecent act involving girls from 6 to 15
Conviction Penalty:10 years 9 months' imprisonment (minimum 6 years non-parole)
Conviction Status:Paroled
Occupation:Actor, voice actor
Years Active:1975–2013
Spouse:Robyn Gardiner

Robert Lindsay Hughes (born 19 August 1948) also billed variously as Bob Hughes and Robert Hughs, is an Australian-born British former actor who appeared in and the television sitcom Hey Dad..!.

In May 2014, he was convicted of sexual offences against children and sentenced to ten years, nine months' imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of six years.

Early career

Hughes first worked as a cadet journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald.[1]

Hughes was briefly the bass player for the pop/country rock band the Flying Circus in 1967–68, billed as Bob Hughes, before they had hits with the songs "Hayride" and "La La".[2]

Career

Hughes has acted extensively in Australian theatre, film and television. He was a Sydney Theatre Company company artist from 1981. His theatre roles have included The War Horse and Great Big Adventure Book for Boys. His television roles include Chopper Squad, Cop Shop, The Sullivans, Skyways, Tickled Pink, The Paul Hogan Show, Dick Emery in Australia, Love Thy Neighbour in Australia, Daily at Dawn, The Timeless Land, Kingswood Country, The Flying Doctors, Halifax fp, A Country Practice, Learned Friends, Prisoner and The New Adventures of Blinky Bill. His film roles include Cathy's Child, Fatty Finn, and Squizzy Taylor.[3] Following this he played the lead role in Hey Dad..! from 1987 until leaving the series in 1993.

Despite having been the lead star for twelve of the show's fourteen seasons, Hughes did not participate in two Hey Dad..! cast reunions: on the television series Where Are They Now? in 2006,[4] or a radio reunion on Brisbane station B105 FM in 2009. His absences were later revealed to have arisen from animosity between him and the other actors to the point that most of them refused to partake in the latter reunion if he was involved.[5]

Personal life

Allegations of sexual misconduct

In March 2010, Sarah Monahan alleged that Hughes, who then was living in Singapore, had engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour on the Hey Dad..! set. Fellow cast members Ben Oxenbould and Simone Buchanan spoke in support of her allegations.[6] On 29 March, police announced the creation of a strike force to investigate Monahan's claims.[7] Monahan said she spent more than 35 hours testifying to police.[8] In September 2010, six months after the allegations were published, it was reported that more than 100 people had been interviewed. Police had not yet spoken to Hughes and were weighing up whether a formal interview would take place.[9]

In an interview broadcast on Channel Nine's A Current Affair on 14 March 2011, one of Hughes' nieces stated that he had molested her.[10] Hughes' daughter rejected the allegations and questioned why these accusations had not been raised earlier.[11]

A mother of a victim later said: "We first went to [New South Wales] police about Hughes in 1988 when my daughter was nine years old" and says she was told by the investigating detective "I've tried to get this guy but every time I do someone covers for him."[12] NSW Police had interviewed Hughes about claims of sexual abuse as early as 1985.[13]

Arrest and conviction

Hughes was arrested in London in August 2012, and the New South Wales government sought his extradition to Australia. He was granted bail and a hearing was held on 19 September 2012.[14] At that hearing, Hughes indicated that he intended to return to Australia for questioning.[15] After being extradited to Australia, Hughes was charged with 11 counts of child sexual abuse and released on bail.[16]

His trial started on 10 February 2014, at Downing Centre District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to eleven charges.[17] In April 2014, the jury found Hughes guilty of two counts of sexual assault, seven counts of indecent assault[18] and one count of committing an indecent act. A final charge, relating to an indecent act with a child under the age of sixteen, resulted in a hung jury. No outcome was recorded in relation to this charge.[19]

On 16 May 2014, Hughes was sentenced to 10 years and 9 months' imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 6 years. His earliest date of eligibility for release was in April 2020 at age 71.[20] After sentencing, Hughes was sent to Goulburn Correctional Centre, where inmates doused him in human excreta (urine/feces) upon his arrival, despite his being in protective custody.[21] Prison officials constructed a wall of wire screening to deflect further attacks.[22]

Hughes appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeal, but was rejected on 21 December 2015.[23] The court did, however, mandate that Hughes' prison physical abuse allegations be referred to the Minister for Justice and the Commissioner for Corrective Services. On 18 January 2016, Hughes lodged an appeal with the High Court of Australia,[24] and has since lost his High Court challenge to child sex convictions.[25]

Hughes requested an international prisoner transfer to the UK, due to holding dual British-Australian citizenship. However, he later withdrew this application and instead renounced his Australian citizenship, meaning he would be deported to the United Kingdom once paroled or his sentence completed. As a result, the New South Wales State Parole Authority refused parole in March 2020 as he would be deported and not under supervision, thus presenting an 'unacceptable risk to community safety'. On 2 June 2022 Hughes was granted parole, to face deportation to the United Kingdom.[26] On the morning of 14 June 2022, Hughes was released into the custody of Australian Border Force officers to ensure he would be flown straight out of the country.[27]

Filmography

Films

!Year!Title!Role!Notes
1977Ashley WallaceFeature film
1978RipkinTV movie
1979Cathy's ChildMike (billed as Bob Hughes)Feature film
Fatty FinnPercyFeature film
1981Winter of Our DreamsMartin HarrisFeature film
1982...Deadline...FletcherTV movie
Squizzy TaylorReg HarveyFeature film
1984The Great Gold SwindleBrian MickelbergTV movie
1996Race the SunJudd PotterFeature film
1999First DaughterDanFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975Armchair TheatreEpisode: Tully Lookout
1977The Dick Emery Show in AustraliaVarious CharactersTV series
1978Tickled PinkJethroTV series
Chopper SquadThe PhotographerTV series
1979Love Thy Neighbour in Australia Bernard SmithTV series
1980The Timeless LandCaptain KempTV series
Home Sweet HomePoliceman TV series
1980–1982Kingswood CountrySolicitor / Hamish McDingleTV series
1981 Cop ShopBob Harvey / James BestTV series
Daily at DawnGil JamesTV series
1984City WestTV series
Sweet and SourCollege Supervisor TV series
1984–1987The New Adventures of Blinky BillRanger BarryTV series
1985PrisonerRam/Voice of TV NewscasterTV series
1986Return to EdenSearch Co-ordinatorTV series
1987Flight into HellMiniseries
1990G.P.Alan DeanTV series
1991Hampton Court Martin KellyTV series
1983–1992A Country PracticeTony West/Adrian/Andrew Baxter/Colin WarnerTV series
1987–1994Hey Dad..!Martin KellyTV series
1994The FeralsWhite AntTV series
Halifax f.p.TV series
Episode: My Lovely Girl
(billed as Robert Hughs)
1997State CoronerDr. Nelson GreyTV series
1998All SaintsAlan FitzerTV series
2000Tales of the South SeasPaul CabotTV series
Nowhere to Land AFP Bill RyanTV series

Discography

Albums

List of albums! Title! Album details
Martin Vs Betty – The Best of "Hey Dad.."
(with Julie McGregor)
  • Released: 1991
  • Format: CD, Cassette
  • Label: 7 Records (HDR 1991)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Flying Circus. milesago.com. 27 March 2010.
  2. Web site: Flying Circus. https://archive.today/20120710014945/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/F/Flying_Circus.html. usurped. 10 July 2012. jam.canoe.ca. 27 March 2010.
  3. Atterton, Margot. (Ed.) The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz, Sunshine Books, 1984. p 111
  4. News: Every family has its secrets – inside the seemingly perfect world of Hey Dad . Fife-Yeomans. Janet. 27 March 2010. The Daily Telegraph. Australia. 27 March 2010.
  5. Web site: Hey Dad Cast Reunion. 2009. b105.com.au. 27 March 2010.
  6. News: Hey Dad star to see police over sex claims. Hornery. Andrew. Geesche Jacobson . 27 March 2010. The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 March 2010.
  7. News: Strike force to probe Hey Dad! claims . Ralston . Nick . 29 March 2010 . The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 March 2010.
  8. News: Child star Sarah Monahan's police 'therapy'. Fife-Yeomans. Janet. 18 May 2010. The Daily Telegraph. Australia. 18 May 2010.
  9. Web site: Hey Dad star still to be questioned. The Sunday Telegraph. 26 September 2010. 2 October 2010.
  10. News: Niece Melinda O'Donnell claims Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes molested her. 14 March 2011. The Daily Telegraph. Australia. 14 March 2011.
  11. News: Deery.
    1. Shannon
    . Daughter of Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes rejects sex abuse claims . 15 March 2011. Herald Sun. 15 March 2011 .
  12. News: Bibby. Paul. Mother of Hey Dad! victim speaks out. 12 May 2014. The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 May 2014.
  13. News: Bibby. Paul. Robert Hughes from Hey Dad! sentenced to six years in jail for child sex abuse. 17 May 2014. The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 May 2014.
  14. Web site: Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes arrested in London over sex assault. 9 August 2012. 9 August 2012.
  15. News: Former Hey Dad! TV star Robert Hughes to be extradited to Australia. Wald. Tom. 28 September 2012. Herald Sun. 28 September 2012. Australian Associated Press .
  16. "Hey Dad! star charged over alleged child sexual assaults". (13 December 2012). ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  17. Web site: Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes pleads not guilty to child sex offences . The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 February 2014 . 12 February 2014 . Bibby, Paul.
  18. Web site: Paul Bibby . Robert Hughes from 'Hey Dad!' found guilty of sexually assaulting girls . The Sydney Morning Herald . 7 April 2014 . 7 April 2014.
  19. News: Bibby. Paul. Hey Dad! star found guilty of exposing himself on set of show. 8 April 2014. The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 April 2014.
  20. News: Robert Hughes sentenced for child sex offences. SBS News. 16 May 2014.
  21. News: Hey Dad actor covered in poo. NewsComAu. 2016-10-28.
  22. News: Prison wall to stop 'urine' attacks on Robert Hughes. NewsComAu. 2016-10-28.
  23. News: Kidd. Jessica . Staff. Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes loses appeal against sexual offence conviction . 21 December 2015 . ABC News . ABC . 21 December 2015.
  24. News: Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes appeals against sexual assault conviction . 18 January 2016 . Yahoo!7 . 18 January 2016.
  25. News: Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes loses High Court fight against child sex convictions. 14 June 2017. ABC . 14 June 2017.
  26. News: 2022-06-02 . Robert Hughes: Australian actor and sex offender to be deported to UK . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-06-02.
  27. News: 2022-06-14 . Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes released from jail and will be deported to UK . en-GB . The Guardian . 2022-06-14.