The father who tortured baby Tony Hudgell so severely the child lost both legs is set to be released from prison after serving just seven years of his 10-year sentence. Anthony Smith, 53, will be freed under strict licence conditions days after Tony’s birth mother was released from jail.
A Parole Board hearing has approved Smith’s release despite fierce opposition from Tony’s adoptive mother Paula Hudgell, who branded him “evil” and warned he remains a danger to children. The decision comes in the same week Jody Simpson, 33, Tony’s birth mother, was freed from custody.
Tony, now 10 and Britain’s youngest ever recipient of the British Empire Medal, was just 41 days old when his birth parents inflicted catastrophic injuries that led to the amputation of both his legs below the knee. The brave youngster continues to suffer from the effects of his parents’ cruelty.
Strict Release Conditions
The Parole Board summary revealed Smith will face extensive supervision upon release, including wearing a GPS tag and adhering to a curfew. The panel concluded the proposed release plan would be “robust enough to manage him in the community.”
“After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody, the recommendations of the witnesses, and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public,” the summary stated.
Smith’s licence conditions include specified limitations on contacts, activities and residency to avoid victims and protect children. He must also comply with restrictions on mobile phone use.
Adoptive Mother’s Fury
Paula Hudgell, 57, from West Malling, Kent, condemned the decision and warned Smith poses an ongoing threat to children. The anti-child cruelty campaigner said the conditions don’t go far enough.
“Another of Tony’s remorseless birth parents is now going to be living free – while the boy they harmed deals with life-long injuries,” she said. “He will be on licence, and I appreciate that he will be monitored, but after that licence expires he will do what he did while on bail and disappear.”
Hudgell expressed particular concern about Smith’s use of aliases and his demonstrated danger to children. “In my opinion he has shown absolutely no remorse for what he did to Tony – none at all – he remains a dangerous, violent person.”
Campaigning for Change
The decision has strengthened Hudgell’s determination to establish a Child Cruelty Register to track dangerous offenders beyond their licence periods. She emphasized this isn’t just about Smith and Simpson but protecting all children from potential abuse.
“This is why I keep continuing the campaign to introduce the Child Cruelty Register so we can keep track of people who could do harm to more kids,” Hudgell explained. It’s about making sure child abusers are prevented from harming innocent children.
Smith and Simpson were convicted in 2018 of causing or allowing a child to sustain injury and neglect by failing to seek immediate medical attention. Both received 10-year sentences for their crimes.
Horrific Injuries
Doctors at Evelina London Children’s Hospital discovered baby Tony had suffered multiple catastrophic injuries throughout his tiny body. His birth parents had failed to seek help for 10 days, leaving him in excruciating pain.
Medical staff saved Tony’s life, but the damage was irreversible. At age four, surgeons were forced to amputate both legs at the knee due to the severity of his injuries. He has faced countless operations in subsequent years.
The injuries included multiple fractures, dislocations, blunt trauma to the face, organ failure, toxic shock and sepsis. Doctors said Tony could have died without their intervention.
Mother’s Earlier Release
Simpson was first released on licence in February 2023 after serving just five years. However, she was recalled to prison in May 2024 after starting a relationship with a sex offender, breaching her conditions.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood intervened earlier this year, forcing Simpson to face a parole hearing on May 19 rather than being automatically re-released. She has now been freed with strict conditions.
Simpson must report any new relationships to her probation officer, undergo regular drug testing and wear a GPS tag. These conditions will apply for the next two years of her licence period.
Previous Parole Rejection
Smith previously lost a bid for parole in June 2023, when the board concluded he still posed a risk. At that hearing, he refused to listen to a victim impact statement about Tony’s suffering, choosing instead to leave the room.
Smith has never shown any remorse for what he did,” Paula Hudgell said at the time. “Even at the parole hearing, he wouldn’t listen to the personal victim statement of the effect his cruelty had on Tony.”
The 2023 board identified risk factors including Smith’s chaotic lifestyle, drug abuse, alcohol use, and history of acting recklessly and impulsively. They noted his struggle to manage extreme emotions.
Tony’s Remarkable Journey
Despite his traumatic start in life, Tony has become an inspiration to millions. In 2020, aged just five, he raised £1.8 million for Evelina London Children’s Hospital by walking 10 kilometres on his prosthetic legs.
Inspired by Captain Tom Moore during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tony’s fundraising efforts captured the nation’s heart. He received the British Empire Medal in the 2024 New Year Honours, becoming the youngest ever recipient.
Tony also inspired “Tony’s Law,” enacted in 2022, which increased maximum sentences for child cruelty from 14 years to life imprisonment. The legislation was championed by his adoptive parents and local MP Tom Tugendhat.
Ongoing Concerns
Paula Hudgell warned that both birth parents will eventually be free of all restrictions once their licences expire. She expressed particular concern about their ability to disappear and potentially harm other children.
“After her licence expires in two years’ time she will be completely free to do whatever she wants – including getting in a situation where she could cause harm to more children,” Hudgell said of Simpson’s release.
The Tony Hudgell Foundation, established by his adoptive family, continues to enhance the lives of children affected by physical, emotional and psychological abuse while campaigning for stronger child protection measures.
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