Woman who abused baby so badly he needed legs amputating freed from jail

03 February 2023 , 14:11

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Simpson abused little Tony Hudgell (Image: PA)

An abusive woman who tortured brave boy Tony Hudgell so badly he needed both of his legs amputated has been released from prison.

Little Tony's devastated adoptive family has said they have been left with "so many questions" after the release of cruel biological mum Jody Simpson.

Simpson, 29, abused Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards winner Tony, now aged eight, and was jailed for 10 years in 2018.

She was jailed along with her partner Anthony Smith following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, in February 2018.

Both were convicted of child cruelty and causing or allowing serious physical harm.

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'Tony's law' has since increased maximum jail terms for those who cause or allow physical harm to a child from 10 years to 14 years

Simpson was due to be released in August last year but Justice Secretary Dominic Raab stepped in to block her release.

Her case was taken to the Court of Appeal and Simpson won her court battle this morning.

Simpson is not allowed to go near Tony (Kent Police)

(PA)

His now mum Paula Hudgell, 55, said: "It was totally unexpected. We had no idea that a decision or hearing was being held. No one told us. The first we knew was a phone call from our victim liaison officer (VLO) to say it had gone to court today.

"She then said she had 'really bad news' for us and that Simpson 'is being released as we speak'. We always knew it was going to happen at some point but we would have liked a little warning so we could prepare ourselves.

"Tony went off to school as usual this morning and now we will have to be tell him when he comes home. I have no idea which prison she is being released from as we are not allowed to know.

Paula and her husband Mark, 58, fostered and then adopted Tony after he had been horrifically beaten by his biological parents in November 2014.

'Tony's law' lengthened the maximum sentence for people accused of child abuse (Mirrorpix)

Tony Smith could also be released (Kent Police)

The pair's brutal abuse of the then six-week-old left him with numerous life-threatening and life-changing limb fractures, multiple organ failure and sepsis.

So appalling were his injuries that the youngster, now aged eight, had to have both legs amputated at the knee as a result.

Paula added: "She isn't allowed to contact us or come to Kent but the news has just been thrown at me and left me with so many questions."

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Simpson was jailed along with her partner Anthony Smith, who has now reportedly been told he could be released soon in light of his former partner's case.

Tony Hudgell was fostered by Paula and Mark Hudgell when he was four months old. They later adopted him (Collect Unknown)

Tony won a Pride of Britian award when he was six (Daily Star, Daily Mirror, Daily Express)

Paula went on to say Raab's support had been "overwhelming."

She said: "Our VLO said she was sorry to say it would go the same way with him but that it still had to go through the process.

"I just hope this time we get some notice of when that decision is to be made.

"But I have nothing but praise for the support Mr Raab has shown us. It's been quite overwhelming."

Paul said Simpson's release 'left me with so many questions' (Steve Bainbridge)

"His intervention meant they have spent far longer in prison than we ever expected on that day in court when they were jailed.

"Every extra day has been a little extra justice for Tony."

Smith and Simpson were both given 10-year sentences but were both scheduled to be released last year. Raab blocked the release under new powers given under the often-controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.

Simpson's lawyers said the legal challenge was unlawful.

Tony Hudgell, who uses prosthetic legs, takes the final steps in his fundraising walk in West Malling Ken (PA)

Away from the horror of what happened to him as a baby, Tony's story has been nothing short of remarkable.

The brave boy raised more than £1.7million during lockdown for the Evelina London Children's Hospital. It was at the hospital Tony learned to walk on his first pair of prosthetic legs.

He was also the winner of the Daily Mirror's Pride of Britain award and a foundation to help children with trauma was set up in his name.

Benjamin Lynch