Enterprise News and Pictures 20/2/18 Pic shows: Jody Simpson, 24, who has been jailed for the maximum sentence of 10 years for inflicting injuries, with her partner Tony Smith, 46, upon their six-week-old baby which were so bad his legs had to be amputated. The Whitstable, Kent, couple, were both jailed for 10 years yesterday […][/caption]
A MUM has been jailed after her baby son received horrific, life changing injuries which resulted in him losing both his legs has shown no remorse, according to his adoptive family.
Jody Simpson, 33, and her partner Anthony Smith were both jailed after little Tony Hudgell, now 10, was abused so badly as a baby that he ended up with multiple catastrophic injuries to his legs, hips and face.
Jody Simpson, has been in jail since 2018[/caption]
Tony Smith Jr’s injuries were so bad his legs had to be amputated[/caption]
And, despite her time in prison, Simpson still does not show remorse for what she did, according to Paula Hudgell, who adopted Tony when he was a baby.
Simpson is due to be released from prison imminently after a Parole Board ruled that she was no longer a risk to the public.
Paula, 57, said: “In my view Jody has shown no remorse at all.
“She is still a high risk to children and refuses to face up to what she has done to Tony.
“The parole board say they believe they will be able to manage her in the community, but she has already proved she is not trustworthy by starting a relationship with a sex offender the last time she was out.
“It just shows the sort of person she is, totally remorseless and still a danger to children.
“For us, the worst part is that in two years her license conditions will end and she will be free to do whatever she wants, maybe even have another child.
“That is our worst nightmare, that this person, who simply is not sorry for what she’s done, will inflict this suffering on another innocent kid.”
Paula, from West Malling, Kent has been campaigning for the introduction of a child cruelty register, similar to a sex offenders register, which would allow authorities to keep track of child abusers after their license expires.
Simpson will be released from prison after the Parole Board deemed she would not be a risk to the public, according to documents released earlier this week.
Speaking ahead of her release, Paula said: “We knew this was coming after being at the parole hearing and in light of what the Government is doing to ease prison crowding, so it was expected.
“The frustration for us is that she will be on license for two years and then will be able to live a happy life, whereas Tony will have life long problems because of her and Anthony Smith’s actions.
“We made the change with Tony’s law and now future cases are supposed to get lengthier sentences.
“But with the Government’s new policy to release prisoners including child abusers and paedophiles early it sort of makes a mockery of that new sentencing power.
“We are grateful that Shabana Mahmood stepped in and blocked her from being released without a parole hearing, that meant she was in prison longer than she would have been otherwise, but it just feels wrong that she should be free while Tony has to live with the consequences of her actions for life.
“All the politicians we speak to on both sides know about Tony’s case, which I think has helped.
“They all know the story and see that despite his limitations Tony is still just a normal 10 year old boy who just wants to do all the things normal 10 year old boys do.
“I think that has helped our campaign, and now we just want to use that to make sure child abusers are properly punished.”
Simpson was first jailed in 2018 for 10 years after being convicted of causing or allowing a child to sustain an injury and neglect by failing to seek immediate medical attention
Doctors discovered baby Tony had multiple catastrophic injuries to his tiny body – with both his birth parents failing to get him help before it was almost too late.
The evil pair then waited 10 agonising days to get Tony the help he needed – with the tot almost dying due to infection.
Both of his legs were amputated and the brave 10-year-old faces ongoing struggles due to the severity of the injuries inflicted on him.
She was released on license in February 2023, but was back in jail by May 2024 having breached her license by starting a relationship with a sex offender.
The abuser was due to be automatically re-released earlier this year, but Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood stepped in – forcing Simpson to face a parole hearing on May 19.
She will be released from prison in the coming weeks, with strict license conditions including reporting any new relationships to her probation officer, regular drug tests, a curfew and being fitted with a GPS tag.
Little Tony was a guest of honour at a Buckingham Palace garden party last month where he met Prince William.
He has been recognised for his extraordinary fundraising efforts.
In 2020, aged just 5, Tony Hudgell decided to try and raise £509 for the Evelina Children’s Hospital by walking 10km on his prosthetic legs.
In total, he raised an amazing £1.8 million for the hospital which saved his life.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “This was a horrific crime that saw Tony Hudgell mercilessly tortured by his birth parents and our thoughts remain with him and his loved ones.
“Now that the independent Parole Board has directed her release, Jody Simpson will be subject to strict supervision and licence conditions. She faces an immediate return to prison if she breaks the rules.”
A Parole Board spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Jody Simpson following an oral hearing.
“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
“A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
“Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.
“Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.
“It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.
“Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”
Jody Simpson will be released on parole shortly[/caption]
Tony Smith, like Jody, was also sentenced to 10 years in jail.[/caption]
