Sunday 26 June 2022 05:21 PM Child abusers will be jailed for LIFE under Tony's Law: Rule named after boy ... trends now
Child abusers could face life in jail, up from the current maximum of 14 years, thanks to new tougher sentences being put into force from this week.
The change comes from Tony's Law, named after Tony Hudgell, now seven, who lost both legs after being tortured by his parents.
Jody Simpson and Tony Smith got just ten years in prison, which was the maximum punishment for child cruelty offences at the time.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill amendment has been pushed through by Justice Secretary and Deputy PM Dominic Raab following 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.'
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.
Anyone who now causes or allows the death of a child or vulnerable adult in their care will face up to life imprisonment, rather than 14 years.
The maximum penalty for child cruelty causing or allowing serious physical harm will rise from 10 years to 14 years.
New laws mean that child abusers could face life imprisonment rather than a maximum of 14 years. The rule has been dubbed 'Tony's Law' who lost both his legs due to his abusive birth parents. (Tony pictured with his adoptive parents Paula and Mark Hudgell)
Tony's birth parents Jody Simpson (left) and Tony Smith (right) were both jailed for child cruelty and received the then maximum sentence of 10 years, which will now be raised to 14 years under the new rules
Tony was admitted to the Evelina London Children's in Southwark, south east London, in 2015 after he suffered horrific abuse from his birth parents Jody Simpson and Tony Smith
The Government has also set out social care reforms to help recruit more foster carers, increase support for social workers and improve 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'.
She dedicated the victory to 'Tony and all the babies and children that suffered or lost their lives at the hands of their abusers'.'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.'
There are several high-profile cases which have shocked the public, both in the nature of the cruel crimes committed and by what many feel are very lenient sentences.
Tony Hudgell
Tony was barely a month old when he nearly died in hospital and had to have a double leg amputation due to severe abuse by his parents
Tony was just 41-days-old when he was rushed to hospital with multiple organ failure, numerous fractures and sepsis following horrific abuse at the hands of his parents, Jody Simpson and Tony Smith in 2014.
After a six week battle to save him, doctors made the decision to stop all but palliative care.
But they were unable to because Tony was a ward of court and the courts had closed for Christmas.
Incredibly, Tony fought back and was able to recover from his life-threatening injuries.
He was soon adopted by Paula and Mark Hudgell who have since successfully campaigned for longer sentences for anyone who seriously harms a child.
Arthur Labinjo-Hughes
Six-year-old Arthur was beaten and tortured before his murder at the hands of his stepmother
Emma Tustin was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 29 years and Arthur's father, Thomas Hughes, was jailed for 21 years for manslaughter
Arthur Labinjo-Hughes waking up hours before he collapsed from fatal injuries on CCTV
Six-year-old Arthur was beaten and tortured before his murder at the hands of stepmother Emma Tustin at her home in Solihull.
Tustin was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 29 years and
