A mother who abused her child so badly he had to have his legs amputated may be kept in jail for longer.
Parents Jody Simpson and Anthony Smith were both jailed for 10 years in 2018 for torturing their son, Tony Hudgell, who is now seven.
Tony’s case led to public outcry and calls for child abusers to be given life behind bars.
Simpson was due to be released on licence at the halfway point of her prison sentence on Friday, but Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has referred her case to the Parole Board.
Tony’s new mother, Paula Hudgell, said she felt “over the moon” with the potential change to Simpson’s sentence, and said it shows “how much Tony has touched everyone’s hearts”.
She said: “I’m over the moon and feel quite overwhelmed.
“It just makes you appreciate the severity of the case and how much Tony has touched everyone’s hearts.
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“I didn’t expect it. I was almost waiting for her to be released.
“Tony suffers every single day, and their sentence doesn’t reflect the severity of the crime.”
Read more: Our son was so badly abused by his birth parents that he had to have his legs amputated
Mr Raab said Tony endured “a horrific and systematic campaign of abuse from his birth parents” and said he is “duty bound” to do everything possible to prevent another child suffering at their hands.
He added: “So I have referred the case of Jody Simpson to the Parole Board, under new powers designed to keep prisoners incarcerated for longer when their release would put public safety at risk.”
Tougher sentencing for child abusers came into force in June, meaning anyone who causes or allows the death of a child or vulnerable adult in their household can now be given up to life in prison – increased from the previous 14-year maximum.
The sentencing changes are known as “Tony’s Law”, following campaigning by the youngster’s adoptive family.
Tony was 41 days old when he was assaulted by his birth parents, an attack which caused multiple fractures, dislocations and blunt trauma to the face, leading to organ failure, toxic shock and sepsis.
He was left untreated and in agony for 10 days, and the damage meant both his legs had to be amputated.
