Oscar Pistorius 'wanted forgiveness more than parole' as former teacher speaks out ahead of prison release

Pistorius has since spent the last 3,108 days behind bars.

But he'll be released from prison on Friday after being granted early release following a parole hearing, which took place back in November.

Over the years, Pistorius has had a few visitors.

Steenkamp's father, Barry, even met the 37-year-old prior to his death in September in order to get closure.

He left unhappy, however, after Pistorius refused to admit he shot Reeva on purpose.

The Bladerunner star always insisted he didn't mean to murder his girlfriend, claiming he mistakenly believed she was an intruder.

Another person who has seen Pistorius in recent years is former teacher, Bill Schroder.

Schroder visited Pistorius four times at Atteridgeville prison in South Africa and was headmaster of the runner's former school, Pretoria Boys High School.

And he's told The Sun that Pistorius wanted forgiveness from Reeva's family more than parole when he visited his ex-pupil.

“When we met (in prison) it was very emotional and we both hugged and cried," he said.

"I was surprised to find he had a big beard and that he was chain-smoking.

“He didn’t really bring up Reeva in depth but when he touched on it he insisted it was an accident.

“What did or didn’t happen was like the elephant in the room.

"Having followed the trial, I found it hard to believe that it was an accident, but I decided to stay neutral as his story had a degree of plausibility — albeit a low degree.”

He added: “He was desperate to be forgiven by her parents. He was more concerned about forgiveness than getting parole.

“If he’d resolved things with her parents it would have made things easier for him on his release.”

Schroder also says Pistorius fears release and how he'll be treated by members of the public if their paths cross.

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“He spoke about his fears about how he will be treated by the public when he is out, as he knows he has those who support him but he knows there are many others who don’t," he revealed.

“He fears for his safety and being attacked if he just takes a walk down to the shops or a bar.

“Oscar worries about simple things like the reaction if he walks into a restaurant.

"Will he be ignored or acknowledged? Will he be abused or even attacked?

“He has been offered a safe place in Italy where he has some family but under the terms of his parole, he can’t leave the country.

“He’s lost a lot of weight as he cannot train any more but he has found religion and tries hard not to upset anybody.”

A close friend to the Steenkamp family, however, has warned Pistorius he's in for the 'shock of his life'.

They told the publication: “Oscar will get the shock of his life when he is back out in the real world.

"It’s a very different world where gender-based violence is now taken far more seriously.

"Friends who were once perhaps very close to him may now look the other way when they see him, or even call him out.

“I don’t know if he will be able to cope with no longer being the centre of attention and the superstar everybody wanted to be around.

"He will always be looking over his shoulder.”