Koke Posted 20 August 2007 Posted 20 August 2007 Hughes secures parole from prisonFormer West Brom striker Lee Hughes left prison on Monday after serving half of a six-year sentence for killing a father-of-four in a car crash. Hughes was jailed in 2004 for causing death by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident. The 31-year-old is set to resume his football career with Oldham Athletic. "We have every sympathy for the families concerned but we are hopeful now he can get on with the job he knows best," said Oldham director Barry Owen. Hughes, who was at Featherstone Prison near Wolverhampton, signed for League One side Oldham earlier this year and is likely to be unveiled next week. His fitness will be monitored before a decision is made on when he will be selected. "There are certain family priorities initially, and he's got to get used to being out of prison," Owen told BBC Radio 5live. "We anticipate his fitness will be assessed by the club when he arrives, and it will be then up to the management to decide on a plan of attack." Owen called on fans to go easy on Hughes when he resumes his playing career. "Any signing in football is a gamble," Owen added. "I'm not prepared to think about the moral aspects, I think he's entitled to pick up his job. "I don't think Lee Hughes will have it easy. Fans will remind him of the past when he's playing football. But one would expect them to conduct themselves in a football ground as they would do in the street." Hughes was in his £100,000 Mercedes in Meriden, near Coventry, in November, 2003, when it hit a vehicle carrying Douglas and Maureen Graham and Albert Frisby. Mr Graham died instantly and his widow died in her sleep 13 months later. Hughes fled and was arrested 36 hours later after handing himself in. Mr Frisby, 62, who suffered multiple injuries and still has trouble walking, said: "In my eyes he was sentenced to six years and that's what he should have served. "As far as I am concerned he killed those people he could have killed me, after all he left me for dead. "The arrogance he displayed in court says to me that he'll do it again. What makes it worse is that he's out of prison now to start his life over again playing football in the first division, whereas our lives have been destroyed. "I have yet to receive any compensation for what has happened."
Flynny Posted 20 August 2007 Posted 20 August 2007 I don't know really what there is to say about it. Slightly suprising he's going straight back into football at that level, but good luck to him, I guess.
Koke Posted 20 August 2007 Author Posted 20 August 2007 I can't see it going down well with anyone. I can imagine all the abuse he'll get from opposition fans.
stez Posted 20 August 2007 Posted 20 August 2007 just imagine if he was a plumber eh? should he rot on the dole then? never allowed to work?
Brainy Posted 20 August 2007 Posted 20 August 2007 'Flynny'&'Nasir'I don't know really what there is to say about it. Slightly suprising he's going straight back into football at that level, but good luck to him, I guess. I can't see it going down well with anyone. I can imagine all the abuse he'll get from opposition fans. Agreed
THEBIGJOHNSTEADER; Posted 20 August 2007 Posted 20 August 2007 I can't see it going down well with anyone. I can imagine all the abuse he'll get from opposition fans. Deserves everything he gets. Sub-human scum
kidder_wolf Posted 20 August 2007 Posted 20 August 2007 just imagine if he was a plumber eh? should he rot on the dole then? never allowed to work? I have to be careful what i say being a wolves fan, But he was roofer when we played for kidderminster so why cant he go back to a job that isnt in the public eye? two people died because of him ( one from the crash and one from her injuries months later) two other people are now disabled because of him. He was drunk and on drugs at the time but hid for 36 hours to get them out of his system Leaving 4 people for dead. He even offered his mate money to take the blame. We can all agree he should have served more than 3 years but thats not the point he is out and has a right to live his life, But IMO it would be best for all if he wasnt playing pro football. Its an insult to the two dead people and the two who are still alive and struggling to live any kind of life. He never said sorry to his victims until he was told he had to so that he could be eligible for parol. Oldham should be ashamed to have offered this man a contract that he doesnt deserve. If Lee Hughes had any sense of desensy he wouldnt have taken it but he doesnt care about anyone but himself.
THEBIGJOHNSTEADER; Posted 20 August 2007 Posted 20 August 2007 Apparently in court he was arrogant and showed absolutely no remorse. A complete coward
Head Honcho Posted 20 August 2007 Posted 20 August 2007 He's served his time(well half of it anyway) and therefore he can do what he likes! If you had to choose between 10 hours a day on top of a roof freezing your bollox off and 4 hours a day football training and a couple of games a week, we all know what you'd choose! Oldham are the bad guys by offering him a contract.
act smiley Posted 20 August 2007 Posted 20 August 2007 Precisely - he's scum, but even scum have the right to get a job, if someone is willing to give them one.
Hullfox Posted 20 August 2007 Posted 20 August 2007 It's great that he is allowed to live his life now. Shame that Mr & Mrs Graham didn't get that opportunity.
Jon the Hat Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 It's great that he is allowed to live his life now.Shame that Mr & Mrs Graham didn't get that opportunity. Once people have served their sentence they have the absolute right to do whatever they wish within the law. This is an absolute fundamental right, and should not be infringed in any way. If you do not allow people the chance to change their lives they won't. Whether individual cases are particularly galling is a spereate issue, as is whether you should serve only 3 years for killing someone. If you think not, then it is more apprporiate to criticise the justice system than Oldham or Lee Hughes. You would have though some sort of compensation would have been payable to the living victim, but then should you expect more becuase the person who hit you is wealthy? Is that not just greedy? How are you different from someone hit by a skint teenager with no insurance that you deserve more compensation just becuase there is a source of funds?
breadandcheese Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 Once people have served their sentence they have the absolute right to do whatever they wish within the law. This is an absolute fundamental right, and should not be infringed in any way. If you do not allow people the chance to change their lives they won't.Whether individual cases are particularly galling is a spereate issue, as is whether you should serve only 3 years for killing someone. If you think not, then it is more apprporiate to criticise the justice system than Oldham or Lee Hughes. You would have though some sort of compensation would have been payable to the living victim, but then should you expect more becuase the person who hit you is wealthy? Is that not just greedy? How are you different from someone hit by a skint teenager with no insurance that you deserve more compensation just becuase there is a source of funds? I agree 100%. The fault lies in the criminal justice system and its sentencing guidelines. He was driving dangerously, was way over the limit on alcohol, possibly on drugs too, fled the scene of the crime rather than helping those he hit and killed 2 people, injuring others. To be sentenced to six years knowing he will be out after three is appalling. In my eyes, he should have been sentenced to at least double the prison sentence he received.
Manwell Pablo Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 I have no opinion on this issue. Do you want one? I can drink ten pints of stella and snort a couple of lines and try run you over in my Fezza if you want.
Jon the Hat Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 I have no opinion on this issue. Are you feeling alright?
Thracian Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 I have to be careful what i say being a wolves fan, But he was roofer when we played for kidderminster so why cant he go back to a job that isnt in the public eye? two people died because of him ( one from the crash and one from her injuries months later) two other people are now disabled because of him. He was drunk and on drugs at the time but hid for 36 hours to get them out of his system Leaving 4 people for dead. He even offered his mate money to take the blame.We can all agree he should have served more than 3 years but thats not the point he is out and has a right to live his life, But IMO it would be best for all if he wasnt playing pro football. Its an insult to the two dead people and the two who are still alive and struggling to live any kind of life. He never said sorry to his victims until he was told he had to so that he could be eligible for parol. Oldham should be ashamed to have offered this man a contract that he doesnt deserve. If Lee Hughes had any sense of desensy he wouldnt have taken it but he doesnt care about anyone but himself. In no way has his punishment reflected the horror of the crime. The legal system - and those who administer it - take the piss. And I wouldn't give a shit if Hughes was sorry or not. Yes, they should have given him a football - then dropped him off on the Dogger Bank to play by himself. For any professional football club to be associated with such dregs of the earth is beyond comprehension.
Flynny Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 In no way has his punishment reflected the horror of the crime. The legal system - and those who administer it - take the piss. And I wouldn't give a shit if Hughes was sorry or not.Yes, they should have given him a football - then dropped him off on the Dogger Bank to play by himself. For any professional football club to be associated with such dregs of the earth is beyond comprehension. I feel kinda guilty for wishing him luck having seen some of the details that I was unaware of. To say that if he was sorry it wouldn't matter is a bit harsh, though. If he'd handed himself straight in and was genuinely remorseful anf guilt-ridden, it'd be an entirely different story.
Ric Flair Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 Sadly, there was always going to be football teams wanting Hughes when he got let out of jail. He'll get the stick he deserves from the terraces. If he comes through that with some dignity then hopefully that might go a small way to showing he's man enough to take the criticism that will be thrown at him for the crime he commited. I'd be disgusted if I were an Oldham fan though. But i'm sure there are lots of Oldham fans that will have a different opinion. Respect and morals went out of football a long time ago.
THEBIGJOHNSTEADER; Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 Sadly, there was always going to be football teams wanting Hughes when he got let out of jail. He'll get the stick he deserves from the terraces. If he comes through that with some dignity then hopefully that might go a small way to showing he's man enough to take the criticism that will be thrown at him for the crime he commited.I'd be disgusted if I were an Oldham fan though. But i'm sure there are lots of Oldham fans that will have a different opinion. Respect and morals went out of football a long time ago. It's the fact the agreement was made to sign him when he was still under sentance that angers many, and rightly so. It's very disrepectful to the victims families on behalf of Oldham Athletic and the player and his representatives. It's bang out of order there's no question about it
MC Prussian Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 If he comes out a better man, let him play. If he can take the abuse from opposing fans, fair enough. As long as they don't go as low as calling him "Killer King" or something all the time. Of course, that doesn't bring back the deceased. Good luck to him. He'll need it.
Guest seanfox778 Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 He was a crap striker anyway if i remember, didn't hey go a whole premiership season with west brom without scoring 1 goal
Hullfox Posted 22 August 2007 Posted 22 August 2007 If he comes out a better man, let him play.If he can take the abuse from opposing fans, fair enough. As long as they don't go as low as calling him "Killer King" or something all the time. Of course, that doesn't bring back the deceased. Good luck to him. He'll need it. However low the fans go will still surely be morally higher than Mr Hughes' behaviour.
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