Lee Hughes out of jail

It is believed Hughes was driven out of Featherstone Prison, near Wolverhampton, at 7am in a bid to avoid the media camped outside.

The Home Office today refused to deny claims he was given preferential treatment as one of the crash victims spoke of his disgust.

A spokesman confirmed the 31-year-old left the Category C prison. Other inmates let out through the usual exit said they were held back while Hughes was smuggled out, possibly in a prison van.

The striker was jailed in 2004. Hughes, who started his professional career with Kidderminster Harriers, has signed to play for League One outfit Oldham Athletic.

He is expected there this week and has already been allocated the number 9 shirt.

He 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.

Albert 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.