Two parents who tortured their baby so badly he lost both his legs are to be released early. Jodie Simpson, 24, and Anthony Smith, 47, have served only half of the ten-year sentences they were handed in 2018. Tony, now seven, suffered torn ligaments, broken fingers and developed rot as a result of the torture he endured. He was on the verge of death before doctors saved his life. Tony’s stepmother Paula Hudgell, 54, has called for tougher punishments for child abusers. He described the early release of his birth parents as “disgusting” and feeling “like a punch in the gut”. Tony wants to grow up to be a policeman so he can re-arrest his parents (Image: PA) Jody Simpson has had her sentence reduced (Image: Kent Police) And so has Anthony Smith (Image: Kent Police) Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “These monsters have spent just five years behind bars, while Tony faces a lifetime of challenges as a result of their evil. “They don’t go before the parole board or have to show remorse to be released. It’s like a punch in the stomach and it makes me sick to know that those who abuse babies and children will be walking free in a few years. “These monsters could be living on your street and you’d have no idea.” He went on to say that Tony is angry that his parents are about to be released from prison and aspires to be a police officer when he grows up so he can arrest them again. His birth parents were only convicted after extensive campaigning by Ms Hudgell and MP Tom Tugendhat. Tony’s Law ensures tougher sentences for people who cause ‘serious harm’ to children aged 10 to 14 (Image: PA) Tony is now fundraising for the hospital that treated him as a baby (Image: Paula Hudgell) He campaigned for Tony’s Law, which imposes increased sentences on those found to have caused “serious harm” to children aged 10 to 14. The new law also means that those found guilty of causing the death of a child face at least 14 years in prison. Tony won the Pride of Britain award for raising money for the hospital that treated him as a baby. The Department of Justice has been contacted for comment. Contact our news team by emailing us at [email protected] For more stories like this, check out our news page.
