Last-ditch attempt to keep mother of severely abused boy behind bars

Dominic Raab launches last-ditch attempt to keep mother who abused her baby so badly he needed his legs amputated behind bars

  • Jody Simpson, 29, was found guilty of child cruelty in 2018 for beating baby Tony
  • He required 23 operations and eight blood transfusions and his legs amputated
  • Simpson was due out this week after being handed 10-year sentence in 2018

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has launched a last-ditch attempt to keep the mother of severely abused boy Tony Hudgell in jail after she became eligible for release this week. 

Jody Simpson, 29, and her partner Anthony Smith, 52, abused Tony so badly as a baby he required 23 operations and eight blood transfusions, before doctors were later forced to amputate his legs. 

The pair were found guilty of child cruelty in 2018 and are both currently serving a ten-year prison sentence, however Simpson was due out this week. 

It comes after she won a High Court challenge against Mr Raab’s decision to delay her release. 

Tony Hudgell, 8, uses prosthetic legs to walk after both of his legs were amputated when he was four months old. He raised more than £1million for Evelina London Children’s Hospital by completing a walking challenge

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured) has launched a last-ditch attempt to keep the mother of tortured boy Tony Hudgell in jail after she became eligible for release this week


Jodie Simpson, 29, and her partner Anthony Smith were jailed for 10 years in 2018 for torturing Tony Hudgell

 

Ministry of Justice officials have put in an application to the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court ruling. Simpson will remain behind bars until a decision is made on whether or not to grant a hearing. 

Tony’s adoptive mother Paula Hudgell, 55, told the Sun: ‘Any extra time Simpson spends behind bars is justice for Tony. She and Smith are monsters.’

Mr Raab added: ‘Tony Hudgell was mercilessly tortured by his birth parents, the very people who should have loved and cared for him.

‘It’s my duty to protect other children from that awful experience which is why we will be challenging this ruling and Jody Simpson will remain behind bars while the courts consider our appeal.’

Tony was rushed to hospital with life changing injuries in 2014 when he was 41-days-old, following horrific abuse from his parents. 

In 2017, Tony had both legs amputated due to the injuries he sustained as an infant.

He is still learning to walk on prosthetic legs without crutches.

His fortunes turned around after his life was saved by specialists at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, of which the Princess of Wales is an official patron.

Little Tony has since been hailed a hero by Prince William and wife Kate over his extraordinary fundraising walks to help vulnerable children.

He set out to raise £500 for the hospital that saved his life by walking 10km in 30 days in 2020 after being inspired by Sir Captain Tom Moore, who raised more than £33 million walking in his backyard.

Tony Hudgell had both legs amputated when he was four months old, after he was abused by his birth mother and her partner

Paula Hudgell (pictured), 55, was honoured after campaigning for tougher jail sentences for convicted child abusers

Little Tony (pictured) has been hailed a hero by Prince William and wife Kate over his extraordinary fundraising walks to help vulnerable children.

Paula said she was ‘really humbled’ by being named in the New Year’s Honours list which she described as ‘an incredible end to 2022’

Paula and husband Mark, from Kent, have since set up the Tony Hudgell Foundation to help enhance the lives of children who have been affected by physical, emotional, or psychological abuse. 

Paula was named in the New Year’s Honours list for her campaigning efforts. 

It led to the establishment of Tony’s Law, named after the eight-year-old, which has seen the maximum penalty for causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child to increase from ten to 14 years, while causing the death of a child has risen from 14 years to life.

Paula said she was ‘really humbled’ with the award which she described as ‘an incredible end to 2022’.

Source: Read Full Article

Previous post Elgin Marbles could soon be returned to Greece under 'long-term loan'
Next post American Airlines ground crew employee killed in accident at Alabama airport