Disgraced former Cabinet minister Chris Huhne repeated apologies for his wrongdoing yesterday, saying that prison had been a "humbling and sobering experience".

The 58-year-old was released from jail after serving 62 days of an eight-month sentence for perverting the course of justice.

The former energy secretary arrived back at the home he shares with his partner, PR adviser Carina Trimingham, in Clerkenwell, central London, after being driven out of Leyhill Prison in Gloucestershire.

Speaking outside the couple's flat, with Ms Trimingham by his side, Mr Huhne told gathered reporters to "calm down", before saying: "I would just like to say once again, as you know from the night I was sentenced, I said that I was very sorry for what I had done. It has been a humbling and sobering experience.

"I would like to thank all of those who have written to me –hundreds of letters that I have had – and all my family and friends who stood by me."

Huhne was jailed for eight months in March, alongside ex-wife Vicky Pryce, after finally admitting passing speeding points to her a decade ago.

The shamed former MP for Eastleigh in Hampshire, who once aspired to be Liberal Democrat leader, had denied the allegations and battled for the case to be thrown out, before finally pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice on the first day of their trial in February.

Both he and his former wife were released yesterday, but will have to wear electronic tags.

Earlier, Pryce, who returned to her home in Clapham, south-west London, after being released from East Sutton Park Prison, near Maidstone, Kent, told reporters the first thing she planned to do was have a cup of coffee.

Her solicitor Robert Brown read a statement, in which she said she was pleased to be home and looking forward to returning to her career as an economist.

"Vicky Pryce is very pleased to be home and back with her family," he said.

Pryce has ideas to write about the economics of the criminal justice system, combining her economic expertise with her experience behind bars, Mr Brown said.

The former couple have yet to find out how much they will have to pay for the cost of their prosecution.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is seeking £100,000 in costs from Huhne, but a costs hearing at Southwark Crown Court was told his legal team had offered just £25,000. The CPS is seeking a total of £48,695.56 from Pryce.