Loyal wife by actor Robert Hughes' side as child sex charge ordeal begins

FORMER Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes yesterday started his new life as a man on remand, clutching his wife's hand as he fulfilled his bail conditions and reported to police for the first time.

Robyn Gardiner made it plain she is standing by her husband, holding his hand as he left Surry Hills police station following the early morning report.

She has stayed as close to Hughes' side as possible this week since his extradition to Sydney to face 11 child sex charges.

The couple arrived at the station shortly before 8am and left again within minutes. Mr Hughes donned a cap and sunglasses and Ms Gardiner, a prominent show-business agent to celebrities including Cate Blanchett, wore a wide brimmed black and white striped hat and sunglasses.

When approached by The Daily Telegraph Mr Hughes gave no response to questions. In a clear show of unity, they walked though the city hand in hand, with Mr Hughes occasionally placing his arm around his wife as they strode through Hyde Park back to their upmarket hotel in Kent St - where the couple will live as Mr Hughes prepares for trial.


The 64-year-old flew into Sydney early on Thursday morning after his extradition from London and within hours was charged with 11 offences against five alleged victims over a six-year period dating back to 1984.

Court documents allege Mr Hughes abused five different girls in various locations across northern Sydney, and at least two of the charges directly coincide with his time on the show.

He left the prime time series in 1994 after seven years on the cast.

He was granted bail in Central Local Court on Thursday, and will report to Surry Hills police station three times a week.

Mr Hughes, who cut a forlorn figure in the courtroom dock, has already surrendered his passport and his wife has posted his $50,000 bail surety.

Magistrate Julie Huber said it was clear Hughes wasn't a flight risk, given he had handed himself in to police in London.

He will face court again on January 29.

Mr Hughes' solicitor Greg Walsh said his client was "residing in a room not much bigger than a (prison) cell".

"It (the court case) is going to very difficult for him ... it's a very difficult life," he said.

Mr Hughes, described by his lawyer as a "determined and resolute man ... (though) a quiet sort of person", is expected to plead not guilty to the sex assault charges next year.

The brief of evidence, to be tendered in court next year, will include statements from all the alleged victims. As many as seven officers have worked on the case for the past two years.

http://www.news.com.au/national/loyal-wife-by-actor-robert-hughes-side-as-child-sex-charge-ordeal-begins/story-fndo4bst-1226537182496

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/loyal-wife-by-actor-robert-hughes-side-as-child-sex-charge-ordeal-begins/story-fndo317g-1226537182496

Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes returns to Australia to face sexual assault allegations

FORMER Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes has landed in Sydney to answer child sex abuse allegations dating back to the 1980s.

Hughes's Qantas flight QF2 from London's Heathrow Airport landed in Sydney at 07.29 (AEDT).

The 64-year-old had consented to an order sought by Australia's attorney-general that he return to Sydney for questioning in relation to claims made by five people.

A warrant, signed by Britain's home secretary, outlines 11 accusations dating between 1984 and 1990, which coincides with the actor's starring role in the family sitcom Hey Dad!.

Hughes has not been charged and has been on bail since his arrest in London in August.


His lawyer Greg Walsh has said Hughes emphatically denies all the allegations and will vigorously defend them.
According to Mr Walsh, Hughes was being escorted by three police officers and will be taken to the Sydney Police Centre upon his return to Australia.

Mr Walsh said his client and his family have found themselves in a very stressful situation.

"When I spoke to him before he got on board, I think he was pretty stressed, pretty worried, as any human being would be in that situation,'' he told reporters in Sydney today.


"They won't indicate where I can have the opportunity of meeting my client and speaking with him, conferring with him as you'd expect.''

In a brief extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in London last month, Mr Hughes said he was keen to sort out the charges against him and clear his name.

However it took several weeks before the paper work was signed for his formal extradition.

The 63-year-old former actor was arrested at his luxury home in central London in August for 11 alleged sexual and indecent assaults of five children in Australia between 1985 and 1990.

Hughes had been placed on strict bail conditions and provided more than $88,000 in surety. The conditions were that he not be left alone with anyone under the age of 16, stay away from airports, ports or London’s Eurostar train station, abide by an 8pm-6am indoors curfew and wear an electronic tag.

He spent one night at Wandsworth Prison while he arranged the surety but then remained in his apartment for the next three months as the legal wheels turned.

http://www.news.com.au/national/hey-dad-star-robert-hughes-returning-to-australia-to-face-sexual-assault-allegations/story-fndo4eg9-1226535000899

Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes expected in Australia within days

HEY Dad! star Robert Hughes is expected to arrive back in Australia in a matter of days to face a raft of child sex assault charges.

The British government signed an order on November 20 for Hughes's extradition, giving him 14 days to appeal.

Extradition of Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes approved

The 64-year-old, who played Martin Kelly in Hey Dad!, consented to the order, leaving him four weeks from the date of the order to leave the UK.

That process has left Hughes less than a week before he must depart London for Sydney under escort by NSW police.


He was charged in London via an arrest warrant from the Sex Crimes Squad in August.

The warrant relates to 11 offences, including indecent and sexual assault, against five girls between 1984 and 1990, when the actor played the central character Martin Kelly in the hit TV series.

http://www.news.com.au/world/hey-dad-actor-robert-hughes-expected-in-australia-within-days/story-fndir2ev-1226534691557

HUGHES' WIFE FACING HER OWN PROBLEMS

As the fallout from child sex abuse claims levelled against the Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes gathers momentum, Hughes's wife, the once powerful Hollywood agent Robyn Gardiner is facing up to her own nightmare.

Since the claims were raised nearly two years ago by the former child star Sarah Monahan, Gardiner has kept out of the spotlight, declining to comment and focusing on her global business, RGM, which counts Cate Blanchett among its stellar clients.

PS understands Gardiner, who has a daughter with Hughes, has supported her husband throughout the ordeal and remains in the relationship, sharing a London apartment with him and a home in Singapore.

''We were very old friends, she started her career by working as my assistant in 1970. She was immensely successful and powerful … When you have Cate Blanchett on your books, people listen,'' a fellow casting powerhouse, Liz Mullinar, herself a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, told PS this week. Mullinar said she had not spoken with her old friend ''for years'', confirming her falling out was over Hughes and the accusations he now faces.

Indications that Gardiner, who had built a multimillion-dollar empire, was now facing financial strain emerged in August when it was reported Hughes had spent a night in a London jail because his wife was unable to raise the $90,000 bail.

In Sydney, several of Gardiner's clients have quietly left the agency since the scandal emerged, including the actor Ben Oxenbould, who also starred on Hey Dad! Oxenbould went public with his suspicions of Hughes on national television. At the time, he was listed alongside Hughes on the RGM website.

Gardiner's business is also facing other problems internationally, with Singapore's Media Development Authority suing RGM Entertainment and RGM Group - both subsidiaries of One North Entertainment (formerly known as RGM Media and currently in adminstration) based in Australia - to recover $S27.5 million ($21.5 million) of public funds. PS understands the action is being defended.

Gardiner resigned as a director of One North Entertainment in April but remains a consultant to RGM Artists, a separate entity. The Australian Securities Exchange reported last month One North Entertainment had not paid its annual listing fee and was removed from the official list.

According to court documents, RGM Entertainment was set up in Singapore in 2005 with a $S2.5 million loan from the Media Development Authority. A further $S10 million was handed to RGM in 2008 for a film production fund. Two years later, the authority seeded funds to two film studios - $S5 million to 20th Century Fox and $S10 million to Sony Pictures Entertainment - by establishing two agreements with RGM.

According to media reports, the deals were meant to ''make Singapore a vibrant global media city'' but it never materialised. Now the Singaporeans want their money back.

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/private-sydney/fallout-sets-tongues-wagging-20120928-26qyy.html

Hughes to be extradited

A British judge has approved the extradition of Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes, with the actor set to return to Australia within days to fight multiple child sexual assault allegations.

The 64-year-old, who played father figure Martin Kelly in the popular 1980s and 90s TV show, is facing allegations made by five people dating back nearly three decades.

Relating to children aged seven to 15 years, 11 alleged offences between 1985 and 1990 include accusations of indecent exposure, kissing, and the touching of Hughes's erect penis through clothing.

Hughes is yet to be charged with any offence and NSW police want him for questioning in Sydney.

Outside court, his lawyer, Robert Katz, said: "Mr Hughes is shocked and perplexed as to why he is being extradited when police knew he was willing to return to Australia of his own accord to answer their questions if he had been asked.

"Rather than continue to suffer a trial by media, my client is keen to defend the allegations which he vehemently denies."

At a brief hearing in a central London court on Friday, Judge Michael Snow approved an extradition order after Hughes' lawyer, Rachel Kapila, said he would not contest it.

"(Mr Hughes) has never had any issue with returning to Australia," she said.

The order is expected to be rubber-stamped by British Home Secretary Theresa May and Hughes ordered to surrender to authorities in the coming days.

After being arrested at his London home last month, Hughes appeared in court for a third time in relation to the accusations.

The Australian actor, dressed in a dark suit, addressed Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

He was released on bail and ordered not to go near London's St Pancras international train station or airports.

If the order proceeds as expected, Hughes will be handed over to the Australian Federal Police at an English airport.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8540261/tv-star-to-be-extradited-to-australia

A BRITISH judge has approved the extradition of Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes, with the actor set to return to Australia within days to fight multiple child sexual assault allegations.

The 64-year-old, who played father figure Martin Kelly in the popular 1980s and 90s TV show, is facing allegations made by five people dating back nearly three decades.

Relating to children aged seven to 15 years, 11 alleged offences between 1985 and 1990 include accusations of indecent exposure, kissing, and the touching of Hughes's erect penis through clothing.

Hughes is yet to be charged with any offence and NSW police want him for questioning in Sydney.

Outside court, his lawyer, Robert Katz, said: "Mr Hughes is shocked and perplexed as to why he is being extradited when police knew he was willing to return to Australia of his own accord to answer their questions if he had been asked.

"Rather than continue to suffer a trial by media, my client is keen to defend the allegations which he vehemently denies."

At a brief hearing in a central London court on Friday, Judge Michael Snow approved an extradition order after Hughes' lawyer, Rachel Kapila, said he would not contest it.

"(Mr Hughes) has never had any issue with returning to Australia," she said.

The order is expected to be rubber-stamped by British Home Secretary Theresa May and Hughes ordered to surrender to authorities in the coming days.

After being arrested at his London home last month, Hughes appeared in court for a third time in relation to the accusations.

The Australian actor, dressed in a dark suit, addressed Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

He was released on bail and ordered not to go near London's St Pancras international train station or airports.

If the order proceeds as expected, Hughes will be handed over to the Australian Federal Police at an English airport.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/former-hey-dad-tv-star-robert-hughes-to-be-extradited-to-australia/story-e6frf96x-1226483769208

Bios

Sarah Monahan
Sarah Jane Monahan was born 12 April 1977 in Sydney.
Best known for her role as Jenny on Hey Dad..!, she has also appeared in Sons and Daughters as Cassie Hunt and Home and Away as Heather.
Monahan got her start in the industry from her fashion designer father Brian Monahan. She was the in-house model for his children's clothing line, and later, went on to appear in over 100 television and print ads. She became the primary income earner for her family when her father Brian died aged 36 just before Hey Dad...! debuted.
In March 2010 she revealed in an interview with Woman's Day magazine, and later on current affairs television program A Current Affair, that she was sexually abused on the set of Hey Dad...! sometime between 1985 (the pilot was filmed Sept 1985) to 1992-93, by Robert Hughes, the actor who played her on-screen father. Hughes strongly denied the allegations and has engaged defamation lawyers. It was reported that detectives had begun interviewing former members of the cast and crew of Hey Dad..!, although police have declined to confirm a complaint has been received.
Sarah is an Ambassador for Bravehearts, a sexual assault advocacy group.
Monahan is currently living in the US with her American husband, Matt Morris, whom she met in Brisbane, Australia. They married in 2002.

Robert Hughes
Robert Lindsay Hughes was born 19 August 1948 in Sydney, Australia.
Hughes first worked as a cadet journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald.
In 1967–1968 Hughes was the bass player for the pop band The Flying Circus before they had hits with the songs "Hayride" and "La La".
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, Daily at Dawn, The Timeless Land, Kingswood Country, A Country Practice, Learned Friends, Prisoner and The New Adventures of Blinky Bill. His film roles include Cathy's Child, Fatty Finn, ABBA: The Movie and Squizzy Taylor. Following this he played the lead role in Hey Dad..! from 1987 until leaving the series in 1993.
Hughes did not participate in two reunions of the Hey Dad..! cast, including the television series Where Are They Now in 2006 and a radio reunion on Brisbane station B105 FM in 2009.
Hughes currently lives in Singapore where he works as a voice actor in advertising campaigns. He is managed by his wife's company RGM Artist Group, which had planned to list on the Australian Stock Exchange in March 2010.
In March 2010 a number of actors from the cast of Hey Dad..! including Sarah Monahan, Ben Oxenbould and Simone Buchanan revealed to the media that Hughes had engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour on the set of the show. Police announced the creation of a strike force on 29 March to investigate the claims. 
Hughes is married to Robyn Gardiner and they have 1 child, Jessica (born 1978).

Julie McGregor
Julie Anne McGregor was born 26 November, 1948 in Sydney.
McGregor is best known to Australian audiences as Betty Wilson, the dim-witted secretary in the Australian television comedy series, Hey Dad...!, and its short-lived spinoff Hampton Court. In 1992 McGregor was nominated in the Australian Logie Awards in the 'Most Popular Light Entertainment/Comedy Female Performer' category for Hey Dad...!.
Julie and her former Hey Dad! co-star Robert Hughes have appeared in 1 other project besides Hey Dad! and its spin-off Hampton Court,
The TV movie Deadline! (1982)
In 2007 McGregor moved to Winmalee in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. She lives with fiance Adam McFarlane, a poet and sculptor, on 0.4 hectares of land in an 1860 two-storey sandstone home.

Paul Smith
Paul Smith (born 1968 in Sydney, New South Wales) is a former Australian actor, most known for his role as the original Simon in the television sitcom Hey Dad...!, and as Steve in the children's series The Henderson Kids.
He got his start in acting during his first year of high school when a production company was holding a film audition for children in the area.
He appeared in over 15 Australian television shows and movies from the 1980s until the early 1990s.
Smith later moved to Western Australia and became a greyhound trainer.
In May 2007 Smith pleaded guilty to providing false evidence at a stewards' inquiry regarding attending two race meetings with a disqualified person and racing a greyhound that was supposed to be kennelled. As a result he was fined $AU1000 and disqualified from greyhound racing for a six-month period from May to November 2007.
In 2010, Smith revealed the real reason he left Hey Dad! was he struggled with the horrible sexual abuse memories he endured as a child. He has 3 sons, his eldest Shannon Paul Smith died tragically in 2008 aged 20.

Christopher Truswell
Christopher Truswell was born 31 January 1966. He is best known as "Nudge" in the Australian TV sitcom Hey Dad...! He also voiced the character of Gilramos Libkath in United States film Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones which was filmed in Sydney, Australia. Truswell's first acting role was in the Australian film Fast Talking playing the character "Moose".
Truswell also had a guest role in an episode of Australian hospital drama All Saints as Phil Masterson.
Truswell appeared in the third installment of the TV series Underbelly alongside his former Hey Dad! co-star Chris Mayer (Simon#2).

Christopher Mayer
Christopher Plummer was born 1961 in Trinidad. He is best known as the second Simon Kelly in the sitcom Hey Dad..! he played the role from 1988 to 1991.
He also played Pete Sutherland, Rhys' younger brother in Home and Away in 2002.
Uses his mother's maiden name Mayer as his professional name.
Former girlfriend is Simone Buchanan, his Hey Dad co-star.
Former partner of Rachael Beck another Hey Dad! co-star
Son Connor (Born 2006) and Daughter Bronte (Born 2008)

Simone Buchanan
Simone Louise Buchanan was born 11 March 1968 in Marrickville, New South Wales. Simone is best known for her television roles as Debbie Kelly in the situation comedy Hey Dad..! and Samantha Fitzgerald in the soap opera Neighbours.
Buchanan is the daughter of musician Tony Buchanan and teacher Jo Buchanan. The second of three children, she attended Avalon Primary School. Her older brother Miles and younger sister Beth are also actors — Beth is well known for her roles in Neighbours and Blue Heelers, and has also appeared in Hey Dad!, Miles was in A Country Practice, Sons and Daughters and Young Ramsay.
Buchanan began acting in children's television on the ABC network. Since then she has appeared in several films, including playing a rape victim in Shame and as Laura Harris — and eventually Anna Dodwell — in the Australian drama series Pacific Drive.
In 2008 Buchanan played Sam Fitzgerald, the bipolar-suffering estranged wife of Dan Fitzgerald, in the long-running soap opera Neighbours. Originally appearring for three months, from March to June, the character's introduction was considered a success, leading to her return for a second three-month stint from November to February 2009.
Simone has 2 sons, Tane (born 1998) from a previous relationship and Remy (born 2010) from her current marriage to Brett Smith.

Rachael Beck
Rachael Elizabeth Beck was born 9 February, 1971 in Sydney, Australia.
Beck's best known role is that of Martin Kelly's niece/adopted daughter, Sam, on the popular sitcom, Hey Dad...!.
Beck has starred in a number of Australian theatre productions. She appeared in the Australian stage productions of The Sound of Music (taking over from Lisa McCune for the Perth and Adelaide productions), Les Misérables, Cabaret, Singing in the Rain, Cats, and opposite Hugh Jackman in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. In 2006, Beck appeared alongside her husband Ian Stenlake in a stage production of The Pajama Game at Melbourne's State Theatre.
Beck's other television credits include brief stints on Home and Away and as a reporter for Postcards WA.
In 2006, Beck appeared on the Seven Network's celebrity singing competition It Takes Two, earning third place with Home and Away actor Mark Furze. In 2007, Beck appeared in the second series of It Takes Two, partnering Ernie Dingo, finishing fourth overall. In September, 2007, Beck performed the role of Beth in the Australia/New Zealand live concert tour of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. In 2008, Beck partnered with Mark Wilson from Dancing with the Stars for the third season of It Takes Two.
Rachael is married to fellow actor Ian Stenlake and they have 2 daughters, Tahlula (born 15th January 2007) and Roxy (born 19th April 2009).

Ben Oxenbould
Ben Oxenbould was born 2 March 1969 in Adelaide.
In 1980, Oxenbould was cast as "Hubert 'Fatty' Finn" in the film Fatty Finn. He then appeared in several films and television programs, including Home and Away, G. P. and Echo Point. Oxenbould was cast as the character "Ben" in the sitcom, Hey Dad..!, appearing on the show between 1991 and 1994.
In 2000 Oxenbould helped set up the BBAS Memorial School, a school in Bardia, Nepal, a remote Nepalese mountain village. In 2005, he organised a fundraiser for the school, which was supported by Australian entertainers, including singers Tex Perkins and Tim Rogers and comedian Akmal Saleh and artwork by the school's students was auctioned.
From 2003 to 2005 Oxenbould featured as one of the ensemble cast of the sketch comedy series Comedy Inc., in which he was noted for several characters, including his parody of cricketer Shane Warne. He left the program in 2005.
In 2000 Oxenbould won the "Best Actor" award in the Sydney Fringe Festival's annual "Big Competition For Little Plays".
In 2007 he starred in the film Black Water, a thriller set in the Australian outback and featuring a man-eating crocodile. In 2010 he appeared in the film Wicked Love: The Maria Korp Story, a film based on the true story of Maria Korp who was murdered by her husband's lover in 2005.
Oxenbould has also done extensive work as a voice-over artist, as well as work in short films and theatre.
On 24 March, 2010, Oxenbould appeared on Australian television programme A Current Affair to support claims of sexual abuse made by fellow actor, Sarah Monahan. Oxenbould claimed to have witnessed another child actress being molested by a male cast member.
Ben has a son Sam (born 1990) from a previous relationship.

Angela Keep
Angela Keep was born in 1981.
Angie's television debut was on the sitcom Hey Dad..!. She played Jenny Kelly, taking over the role from Sarah Monahan, on the show for two seasons, from 1993 until 1994. In 1995, she starred in children's mini series, Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord and in the drama Breakers playing Cheree (1998–99). Keep also appeared in Home and Away where she played Skye Patterson in 2001.
She has had minor roles in some films, including Garage Days, released in 2002 and in Ned, a comedy satire of the life of Ned Kelly, released in 2003. She has also had a guest role in the television series Beastmaster in the episode "The Minotaur".
Most recently Keep appeared in the Australian television drama series, All Saints, where she played Polly Spicer in 2003.
As of 2011, Keep is no longer acting and is rumoured to be working in Real Estate.



Sources: IMDb.com, wikipedia.org and sarahmonahan.com

Rachael Beck returns to Summer Bay

Rachael plays a psychotherapist named Amy, who helps out Dex with his recovery.
This is Rachael's second time on Home and Away, in 1990, she played Kim Mitchell, sister of Grant (then played by Craig McLachlan).

Hey Dad! star appears in London court

Robert Hughes, the former star of Australian TV sitcom Hey Dad!, has appeared in a London court following his arrest on allegations of child sex assaults more than 20 years ago.
Wearing a blue shirt and unzipped dark jacket, Hughes, 63, appeared in the dock of Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday morning (Thursday evening AEST).
He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.
Hughes' matter was adjourned for later the same day at the request of lawyer Robert Katz.
"I haven't been served with the official warrant yet," Mr Katz told District Judge Michael Snow, asking that he be given time to speak with his client.
NSW police will seek Hughes' extradition to Australia, citing 11 allegations of sexual and indecent assaults against five girls between 1985 and 1990.
Hughes, who starred in the popular Hey Dad! series between 1987 and 1993, has been the subject of an arrest warrant since May.
Following an international search, Hughes was located in London and arrested on Thursday morning.

smh.com.au

Hey Dad star arrested over child abuse claims

Hey Dad star Robert Hughes has been arrested in London after an extensive investigation into child abuse triggered by a report from A Current Affair.

NSW Police confirmed that a 63-year-old man was arrested in the United Kingdom following a two-year investigation that began after A Current Affair's report in March 2010.

Police allege that Hughes committed 11 assaults against five girls between 1985 and 1990 in Sydney's northern suburbs.

After extensive inquiries to find him, he was arrested at 4pm AEST today by the London Metropolitan police.

Australian authorities will apply for his extradition.

Hughes played lead character Martin Kelly on the popular sitcom from 1987 to 1994.

SOURCES: NINEMSN.COM.AU

Chris Truswell and Chris Mayer's new web series Platespotters

The PlateSpotters have been given the challenge to travel around NSW in search of the most interesting personalized number plate stories and the fun and quirky people behind them.

The journeys so far have taken the PlateSpotters (Chris Truswell and Chris Mayer) from Bondi to Newcastle, from Newtown to Vaucluse…. So no suburb is spared!

Keep your eyes peeled for the PlateSpotters who could be coming to a suburb near you.

From platespotters website


www.platespotters.com.au

Julie Hasler Reilly's Art Exhibition

http://www.richardmartinart.com.au/pages/exhibition_details.php?exhibitionID=130

'Hey Dad!'s Robert Hughes facing new sexual assault allegations

Former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes has been faced with new sexual abuse allegations.


The Australian actor, who was accused of molesting former child actor and Hey Dad! co-star Sarah Monahan in 2010, has now been accused of grooming and embarking on an eight-month relationship with a teenage fan. 


A woman identified only as 'Michelle' told A Current Affair that Hughes started pursuing her when she was only 15 years old, after she sent him a fan letter saying that she wanted to get into showbiz.


Over the next eight months, 'Michelle' said that Hughes sent and hand-delivered over 12 letters to her home. In the letters, he allegedly asked her personal questions, invited her onto the set ofHey Dad!, asked her for a photograph and her phone number and offered to drive her home.


She revealed that the liaison ended when Hughes assaulted her. "He came in the afternoon when my mum wasn't there," she said. "I met him at the door and he hugged me and [then] stuck his tongue down my throat." 


Hughes reportedly then told her: "That's the way a man and a woman greet each other." 


'Michelle' continued: "I remember being absolutely repulsed by what happened. He is a despicable human being."


She also said that she has "14 letters showing grooming behaviour" and has made a statement to New South Wales Police.


Hughes has strongly denied all previous allegations made against him.


http://www.digitalspy.com.au

Fresh abuse claims against former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes

FORMER Hey Dad! leading man Robert Hughes has faced explosive new allegations he targeted and groomed a teenage fan during a bizarre eight-month relationship.

The woman at the centre of the claims has told A Current Affair Hughes started grooming her after she sent him a fan letter telling him she wanted to get into show business.

``Michelle'', who was 15 at the time, said it sparked an eight-month relationship during which Hughes sent and hand-delivered more than a dozen letters to her home.

She said in his letters, Hughes asked her personal questions, invited her to the popular show and offered to drive her home on several occasions.

He also asked for her phone number and a picture of herself and told her to keep the letters secret.

The claims come after a string of allegations against the 1980s sitcom star from numerous women, including former young cast members.

Hughes' former child actor co-star Sarah Monahan shocked the TV industry in 2010 when she claimed he molested her on the set of the long-running sitcom.

Last year Hughes' niece also claimed she was molested by the actor numerous times before the age of 10.

Michelle said the relationship ended after Hughes turned up at her house and assaulted her.

``He came in the afternoon when my mum wasn't there, my mum had just bought a piano and he came on the guise that he was going to tune my piano,'' she said.

``I met him at the door and he hugged me and (then) stuck his tongue down my throat.

``I remember being absolutely repulsed by what happened.''

Michelle said after the incident Hughes told her ``that's the way a man and a woman greet each other''.

``He is a despicable human being,'' she said.

``I have 14 letters showing grooming behaviour from a 40-odd year old man to a school kid ... it's unfathomable."

Hughes, who now lives in Singapore, has emphatically denied previous accusations of sexual abuse, which have yet to be proven.

But another former cast member, Ben Oxenbould, has told how he confronted Hughes after witnessing him touch a female guest under the age of 10 on the chest on the set.

He also accused Hey Dad! producers of a cover-up, saying he was intimidated by executives into keeping quiet and told it was a ``lesson in professionalism''.

Michelle said she had made a statement to NSW Police who are investigating.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/

More news on the scandal

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article/8427098/hey-dad-scandal-continues