Piggott granted parole

Press, 11 October 1988, Page 31

Piggott granted parole

NZPA London Lester Piggott, aged 52, will be released from prison later this month, Home Office sources have confirmed. The trainer and former champion jockey, was jailed for three years last October for a £3 million ($B.lB million) tax evasion, and is to be released on parole after serving a third of his sentence.

The Home Office stressed Piggott was not being treated any differently from other prisoners.

“Prisoners become eligible for parole after they have served a third of their sentence,” a Home Office spokesman said.

“Mr Piggott is now eligible and the Home Secretary feels he should have parole. His case has been dealt with perfectly normally.” The spokesman refused to give an exact date for Piggott’s release from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk, but it will be some time later this month.

Racing’s bestknown name will remain “on licence” until the earliest date of his release once he has completed two-thirds of his sentence. But if he breaches that licence he can be recalled to prison to serve the rest of his sentence.