By Sammie Jones-
Maximum punishments to increase for a range of child cruelty offences, as part of a series of new measures to be added to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to further protect the public
They will be introduced as a precaution while more information is gathered and assessed on the variant’s transmissibility and any possible effect on our vaccines.
The new law follows a campaign for Tony’s Law by the adoptive family of seven-year-old Tony Hudgell, who had both legs amputated following abuse.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said the legislation would provide “maximum protection to the most vulnerable”.
Tony’s adoptive mother Paula Hudgell, of King’s Hill, Kent, said she was “delighted” at the announcement.
Under the plans, the maximum jail sentence for those who cause or allow a child’s death will increase from 14 years to life imprisonment.
Sentences are also set to go up from 10 to 14 years for people who cause serious harm to children.
Named ‘Tony’s Law’ after double-amputee Tony Hudgell from Kings Hill, who suffered horrific abuse at the hands of his biological parents, it will increase the maximum sentences available for child abusers.
The inspiring seven-year-old was left fighting for his life after he sustained several fractures that led to sepsis and toxic shock syndrome when he was just 41 days old.
The life-changing injuries resulted in both of his legs being amputated.
His abusers, Jody Simpson and Antony Smith were both sent to prison for 10 years in 2018, the maximum sentence available.
But now proposed legislation which would allow the courts to hand down much harsher sentences in such cases has received government backing following a high profile campaign led by his adoptive parents.
Tony’s adoptive mother Paula Hudgell said she was ” absolutely overwhelmed” at the news Tony’s Law was being backed by the Ministry of Justice.
Paula Hudgell reacts to the news the MoJ is backing Tony’s Law
“I was extremely emotional I have to admit I cried when [Justice Secretary] Dominic Raab told me,” she said.
“I was absolutely overwhelmed. I mean we have worked for nearly four years for this and to finally have this day to be told we have done it is going to make such a difference to the most vulnerable in society, and that’s what it is all about.
“We just wanted to be able to give justice to these poor babies and children, people like Tony. And the ones that have sadly lost their lives. It’s justice for them.
Vaccines continue to remain our best line of defence, and all adults who have not yet received their first or second dose of the vaccine, or those who are eligible for their booster are encouraged to come forward to help protect themselves and others.
Yesterday the JCVI advised the booster programme was extended to all 18-39 year-olds and the gap between the second dose and booster was reduced to three months. All those aged 12 to 15 years have now been advised to receive a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, no sooner than 12 weeks after the first dose. Severely immunosuppressed individuals who have received three primary doses, should now also be offered a booster dose.