Parents who tortured Tony Hudgell so badly as a baby that he lost both legs will be FREED from jail after serving just half of their ten-year sentences

• Tony Hudgell, now seven, was only 41-days-old when he was attacked
• Jody Simpson, 24, and Anthony Smith, 47, were sentenced to ten years in prison
• Tony’s adoptive mother Paula Hudgell said their early release is ‘sickening’
• Mrs Hudgell has previously campaigned for tougher sentences for child abusers 

A pair of vile parents who tortured their baby so severely he lost both his legs are set to be released in a matter of days after serving only half of their prison sentence.  

Tony Hudgell’s birth parents, Jody Simpson, 24, and Anthony Smith, 47, were sentenced to ten years in prison in February 2018 but the pair have served only five years. 

This is despite Tony’s adoptive mother, Paula Hudgell, 54, winning tougher punishments for child abusers. 

Tony, now seven, suffered from broken his fingers and toes, torn ligaments and contracted sepsis after his birth parents left him to suffer for ten days before taking him to hospital. 

Tony Hudgell (pictured), who was abused so severely by his birth parents that both of his legs needed to be amputated, is ‘angry’ that his birth parents will soon be free 

Anthony Smith (left) and Jody Simpson (right) were both found guilty of attacking Tony when he was just 41-days-old. They were sentenced to ten years in prison but will soon be released after serving only five

The infant was on the verge of death when medics first saw him, and due to the extreme level of abuse he suffered, both of his legs needed to be amputated. 

Mrs Hudgell described the release of Tony’s abusers as ‘sickening’ and it feels ‘like a blow to the stomach’.

She told The Mirror: ‘These monsters have spent just five years behind bars while Tony faces a lifetime of challenges as a result of their wickedness. 

‘They don’t go before the parole board or have to show any remorse to walk free. It’s like a blow to the stomach and makes me feel sick knowing those who abuse babies and children are walking free in a few years. 

‘These monsters could be living in your street and you wouldn’t have a clue.’ 

Simpson and Smith get automatically released halfway through their sentences, which at the time was the harshest sentence they could receive, less time they spent on remand. 

According to Mrs Hudgell, Tony is ‘angry’ that they will soon be free and wants to join the police force when he is older to re-arrest them.

Tony, who was only a baby when the attack happened (pictured), suffered from broken bones, torn ligaments and sepsis before medics made the choice to amputate his severely injured legs

Paula Hudgell (pictured with Tony) campaigned for Tony’s law, which is named after her adoptive son. The law increased the sentences that child abusers receive

Simpson and Smith were only prosecuted after Mrs Hudgell and MP Tom Tugendhat campaigned. 

Mrs Hudgell successfully campaigned for Tony’s law in order to increase sentences for those found guilty causing ‘serious harm’ to a child from ten to 14 years. 

Those found guilty of causing a child’s death also now receive 14 years to life in prison.

The seven-year-old has won a Pride of Britain award for raising £1.7million for the hospital which started treating him when he was just 41-days-old.

The Mail Online have approached the Ministry of Justice for comment.  

Tony’s Law: an amendment to Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that introduced tougher sentences for child cruelty 

Tony’s Law is an amendment to Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that was voted by ministers on November 30 2021.

It is named after Tony Hudgell, who was abused by his parents as an infant and suffered life-changing injuries.

His parents, Tony Smith and Jody Simpson, were both jailed for ten years, which was the maximum sentence at the time.

The amendment will increase the maximum penalty for causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child from ten to 14 years, while causing the death of a child will rise from 14 years to life.

The tougher planned sentences could mean that anyone who causes or allows the death of a child or vulnerable adult in their care will face up to life imprisonment, rather than the current 14-year maximum.

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