I assume that the “preferential treatment” to which you refer was the fact that “Other inmates were held back while Hughes was smuggled out”.

Well, what shocking action!! How dare they? I mean these inmates were highly concerned about the “media camped outside” waiting for them also I assume?

What he has done is wrong. However I am willing to bet that of those “held back”, many were also released after only a portion of their sentence had been served and that they will go back to their normal lives without the “media” chasing them down the street!

What he did was wrong, but by no means exceptional. He, like the others, is entitled to his second chance.

Report abuse

Three years of a Six year sentence for destroying a family and killing a man. Not only did he do that, he was a coward who fled the scene and handed himself in three days later. Probably to get the alcohol and drugs out of his system that led to the crash… he should be banned from football by the FA. So should anyone else with a Criminal Record. I don’t want my kids growing up with a bunch of cons as their idols.

Report abuse

He doesn’t deserve to go back into professional football. He needs to redeem himself, if that’s possible,
and become a good person by being charitable, maybe helping unfortunate people would be a good start.

Report abuse

…….. i feel really sorry for the victims family, why should they have to hear about all the success that lee hughes will be having at this new club, and hows hes getting on with his life, cause the victims family sure won’t be able to get on with theirs that that easy……… BAN LEE HUGHES FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!

Report abuse

Why should he be stopped from earning a living? He is a football player, that is how he earns a wage. It’s not like he is going to be earning lots of money nor playing in a top league. He has served his time in prision – it’s not his fault that it was only three years and should now be given a second chance, that is how the British justice system works.
Baggies-girl, he is not getting preferential treatment because he was a footballer, he was allowed to apply for parole – like other prisioners – after half his sentence was served, anyone in the same circumstance would be allowed to apply at the same time.
What he did was wrong, but so was what Bowyer, Woodgate and countless other football players did, there have been and still are loads of criminals playing professional football many with more lucrative deals than the one Hughes will soon be signing the Oldham Athletic

Report abuse

i dont agree that hes has been given preferential treatment, however he has served the time handed down to him just like any other person, why cant he go back to his “job” just the same as any other prisoner may want to,i just hope he has learnt from his mistakes and shows some remorse

Report abuse

im so glad tht albion sacked him he is a disgrace he should be banded from playin football its a disgrace 4 the fans. i willl feel sorry 4 oldham fans tht have 2 pt up with him but if they give him support thats just sick.my heart goes out 2 the family tht had 2 suffer with their loss hughes should rot in hell he is a disgrace 2 the baggies n oldham.

Report abuse

He should have been left to rot in prison.

What about the family of the victims, they have to live with this crime all their life.

Send him to the Molineux, he will wish he was back in prison !!!

Report abuse

What sort of a coward runs off and leaves a man to die.

Hughes I hope you never have peace of mind and don’t forget…..

What goes around comes around……

Report abuse

Swanleywolf I wasn’t saying that people should have any sympathy whatsoever for lee Hughes, any sympathy goes to the people he hit and their families. All i meant was i don’t understand why people think hughes should be treated differently to anyone who has committed the same offence. Once you have served your time you are free to get on with your life which includes being able to earn a living. I personally think that the 6 years he got should have been much longer – as with anyone who has committed such an offence, but it wasn’t it was 6 years and can apply for parole after half the sentence was served, that is how our justice system works like it or not

Report abuse

Perhaps he would like to say something,but for the grace of god go i,bet he feels sick,dont condone,but society bred him.

Report abuse

Comment Number 10 from Gemma is an absoloute disgrace. let me just ask you this Gemma, if he killed your father and walked away at all let alone after 3 years would you be saying the same thing, NO YOU WOULDN’T so keep your stupid opinions to yourself. He’s a killer and a killer doesn’t deserve a life of his own having taken someone elses

Report abuse

Hughes will have this man’s death with him until the day he dies, and I hope he remembers each day what he did. Unfortunately, footballers don’t always have their brains in their heads.

Report abuse

what lee hughes did was wrong but when he was scoring goals for the albion nobody complained

everybody gets let out of prison early its a fact not many people serve there full time

Report abuse

i have lost a cousin in a car crash and he was only 26 and Lee i hope u have night mares

Report abuse

As a life long Albion fan i agree 100% what lee did on that fatal night was wrong and he should never be allowed to forget the pain he caused that night in August. Every person who comes out of jail is given a second chance. Had he not been famous how many of you would have left a message. Lets just hope he and others who drink and drive sit up and take notice of the pain there actions leave to those left behind.

Report abuse

I wonder if the more ‘Godly’ Mr. Hughes will be using his wads of cash to help out the victim of his fast-lifestyle?

Report abuse

alexingohr,i hope we don’t either and im a wolves fan he should be banned from playing football for life this pc human right loony law should do the same it’s the victims i feel sorry for ban the git.

Report abuse

OK. Just to post my thoughts, and the thoughts of many other oldham fans, as far as i’m aware;
Lee hughes, committed a crime, served the sentence he was given, adn was released on parole! Like it or not, if he was a plumber I very much doubt you would have such high opinions in protesting at him ever plumbing again. Hughes has managed to get a stable job at oldham and has every right to. I don’t condone what lee has done, but thats in the past, he’s done his sentence and has every right to a second chance. And where wer all of you when jermaine pennant was playing wearing a tag! He never served a sentance but I dont hear any complaints when he’s on the field representing his country as a man with a criminal record! (guess you better stop your kids watching pennant eh? baggies-girl)
oh and stacy – dont feel sorry for oldham fans. we don’t support his past, but the majority do believe he deserves a 2nd chance and I for one will support his future with the club!!!

Report abuse

Sadly it would seem that many Oldham supporters are already coming out with the line that Hughes has done his time, that it’s ok for him to pick up with his life and generally getting on the defensive. In the case of Hughes it may be worth bearing in mind that it seemed the Judge may have wished to give a harsher sentence – he was definately of the opinion that leaving the scene was a calculated move rather than being driven by panic. I do, however, think a bigger point has been missed. Yes, the judicial system is severely flawed and things need to change (even though it will be extremely tough with loopholes and legislations which can be taken advantage of and in may cases judges hands are tied) However, in the business world people do have the power to take action and make different choices. As a Blues supporter I appreciate we had Pennant playing for us and, yest, he did wrong. However I don’t feel that what he did can be compared to Hughes’ case. Some acts are borne out of stupidity, which is where Pennant and Hughes were initially similar. However both cases are not the same in any way, shape or form. It is not so much the fact that Hughes possibly drove under the influence (thanks to the 36 hours he went missing, for which I beleive a full account or explaination was ever given). I know that but for the grace of God theat Pennant may too have killed someone in a similar incident. However, to me (and most people) it is quite simply the calculated actions of a self-serving coward to leave the scene of such an accident with no regard for the people you leave in your wake. To then hide for 36 hours whilst news bulletins are appealing for you to come forward must take a special brand of self preservation. This allows a period for many intoxicants to leave your system and time to spare to contact a good lawyer. The only call Hughes should have been making needed to be to an ambulance and he should have faced up to what he had done from the offset. Then maybe people would be a little more prepared to forgive. Simple! Isn’t it about time that all supporters stopped supporting the antics of players, full stop. It sticks in my throat that Woodgate and Bowyer have had such successful careers after committing such hideous acts. Footballer’s legs should be considered as lethal as Boxer’s fists. And cars driven recklessly or under the influence should be classed as lethal as a knife or gun. When people die shouldn’t it actually mean more than it currently does?

Report abuse

This is a disgrace, this man is an absolute coward who ran away from a scene of a crime without any regard for anyone else. There is a guy still on crutches and father of four dead because of his actions. The FA should ban him for life and everyone should boycott Oldham in protest.

Report abuse

what he did was wrong but you cant blame him for just serving 3 out of 6 years its same with every prisoner.what he shouldnt do is if and ever he scores goals again he shoudnt even celebrate got nothing to celebrate about what he,s done.head back to centre circle and carry on.

Report abuse

ok so hes a fool and did probably the worst thing he could have done however. it was not his choice how long he would stay in jail for, it was not his choice of how long the sentance was. but it was his choice to go back to his job regardless how much he earns. put yourself in his shoes hes not goona be playin for very long. the fans will remind him every saturday of what he has done but i tell you now if i was him jus out of jail i would say screw you all i served what was told to serve. i was released when i was told i had no special treatment when in the jail im goin back to work. like you all say he should jus dissapear. im sure you would go back to 16 000 a week after being in jail hypercrites

Report abuse