Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright has been released from prison, narrowly missing the birth of his newborn son.

The celebrity crocodile wrangler was jailed in December for perverting the course of justice over a 2022 helicopter crash that killed his friend and co-star Chris Wilson and severely injured pilot Sebastian Robinson.

He was handed a 10-month sentence, suspended after five, with a two-year good behaviour bond after a jury found him guilty of two counts of perverting the course of justice.

Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright is back home with his family, including his newborn son Sterling, after serving five months in jail for perverting the course of justice over a 2022 helicopter crash that killed his friend and co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson. (Instagram)

Wright is appealing the convictions.

“Finally home with my family after one hell of a fight,” Wright wrote in an Instagram post, alongside an image of himself, his two older children and his wife Kaia cradling their newborn.

“Didn’t quite make the birth of our beautiful boy Sterling, but @kaiawright1 did an incredible job.”

It’s understood Kaia gave birth to the couple’s third child just hours before the Outback Wrangler was released from jail, after her attempts to secure an early release from NT authorities for her husband on compassionate grounds failed.

Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright at the Supreme Court during his trial. (AAP)

Release ends stint in prison

In December last year, Wright was given a 10-month jail sentence for attempting to pervert the course of justice following a fatal helicopter crash.

The Outback Wrangler star lost his best mate and co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson in the February 2022 crash that left pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic.

It happened during a crocodile-egg collecting trip in Arnhem Land while Wilson was slung on a line below a chopper to drop onto nests in remote swampland.

During the trial Wright was accused of lying to crash investigators about the amount of fuel in the machine, of trying to get Robinson to falsify flying hours and of asking a friend to “torch” the helicopter’s maintenance release.

Wild Croc Territory stars Chris “Willow” Wilson and Matt Wright. (9News)

On August 29, a jury found Wright guilty on the first two counts but could not reach agreement on the third torching accusation.

In court, Acting Justice Blow sentenced Wright to 10 months in prison, suspended after he serves five months, with a two-year good behaviour period.

He was given a $5000 fine on the charge of lying to police.

Wright bowed to the judge before he was led away.

The maximum penalty for attempting to pervert the course of justice is 15 years’ jail.

Prosecutors alleged Wright was worried investigators would learn his choppers’ flying-hour meters were regularly disconnected to extend hours beyond official thresholds, with paperwork falsified to match.

The prosecution did not allege Wright caused the chopper crash, the death of Wilson or Robinson’s injuries.

Chris Wilson was killed during a crocodile egg hunting trip. (Supplied)

Acting Justice Blow said Wright made unlawful attempts to prevent charges being laid against him and his helicopter company Helibrook, despite being the holder of an air operating licence which carried safety obligations.

It was highly likely that the helicopter that crashed should not have been flying after exceeding its maximum flight time of 2200 hours, at which it should have been retired or undergone a costly overhaul, the judge said.

“It is clear you had reason to fear that a thorough investigation might reveal that the 2200-hour limit had been exceeded,” he said.

Acting Justice Blow accepted Wright’s lying to police by saying there was still fuel left in the crashed chopper was a bid to avoid charges being laid to protect himself and his friend Robinson.

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright. (A Current Affair)

That charge was not as serious as trying to get Robinson to falsify flying hour records by putting hours from the crashed chopper onto the pilot’s own machine.

“That was a serious attempt to pervert the course of justice”, the judge said.

“It’s significant that you had the callousness to make and pursue this request when Mr Robinson had recently come out of a coma and had just learned that he was unlikely ever to walk again.”

Acting Justice Blow said it was the worst possible time to put any pressure on Robinson when he was heavily medicated and very vulnerable.

He found Wright had contributed substantially to the community as a successful operator of tourist ventures and supporter of charities and conservation causes, noting impressive character references.

The adverse publicity surrounding Wright had led to some of his businesses being on the point of failure, the judge noted.