Depraved child abusers face life in jail under new law named after boy who lost legs following torture by sick parents
CHILD abusers face life in jail under tough new sentences in force from this week.
Tony’s Law will see the maximum term for causing or allowing serious harm to a youngster increased from 14 years.
It is named after Tony Hudgell, now seven, who lost both legs after being tortured by his mum and dad, who got just ten years.
Justice Secretary and Deputy PM Dominic Raab has pushed through the new rules.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill amendment follows a campaign by Tony’s adoptive parents Paula and Mark Hudgell.
Mr Raab said: “I pay tribute to Tony and his adoptive parents, Paula and Mark. This is a victory for them.”
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It forms part of measures which will see the most serious violent and sexual offenders face longer in jail.
Last month, the Government set out social care reforms to improve child protection.
This includes recruiting more foster carers, increasing support for social workers and improving the professional standards of those working in the sector.
Mrs Hudgell, from West Malling, Kent, ran a tireless campaign to ensure that “monsters stay behind bars for longer”.
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She dedicated the victory to “Tony and all the babies and children that suffered or lost their lives at the hands of their abusers”.
The law change will bring an end to soft sentences for child abusers such as Baby P’s killer Jason Owen, who was let off with a six-year stretch in 2009.
Mrs Hudgell added: “I can’t thank enough the public, our friends and family, our MP, Tom Tugendhat, and Dominic Raab for their support in making this a reality.”
Tony’s parents Jody Simpson, 29, and Anthony Smith, 52, were jailed for ten years in 2018 for causing or allowing serious physical harm.
