The former owner of The Daily Telegraph, Conrad Black was released from prison after a judge ordered his release from a Florida jail. The disgraced peer was freed from a low-security prison on bail of $2m.

Conrad Black was released from the Coleman Federal Correctional Institution where he has served less than three years of a six-and-a-half year sentence for fraud and obstruction of justice.

Black managed to avoid reporters and was driven from the prison in a 4×4. He was later seen arriving at the oceanfront home he shares with his wife, Barbara Amiel.

Black will now appear in a Chicago court to be formally “admonished” of the terms of his $2m bail by a US Federal Court Judge. The judge Amy St Eve, ordered his release at a hearing on the condition that he remained in the US.

While Black was collecting his belongings from his cell, his lawyer, Miguel Estrada, was telling the court that his client would head to the Palm Beach mansion to pick up his clothes and other possessions and then stay there “for a few days”, or check into a hotel.

“Palm Beach is not an option long term,” Estrada said. “His home is in Canada.”

Black asked the Judge to be allowed to return to Toronto, however, the prosecution objected to his leaving the US pending an appeal and Judge St Eve agreed.

He pleaded for him to be allowed to return to his home in Toronto but the prosecution objected to his leaving the US pending an appeal and Judge St Eve agreed. The lawyer later told reporters that he remained hopeful the judge would reverse the decision.

Black renounced his Canadian citizenship in 2001 to take up a seat in the House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour.

Peter White, a friend and former business colleague who remains in touch with him, told Associated Press he was likely to spend his first hours and days of freedom with his wife.

White said: “He’s still a wealthy man but his wealth will be affected by the outcome of outstanding lawsuits against him.”