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05th May 2022

Dad who tortured his baby battered in prison with socks filled with tuna cans

Charlie Herbert

Father of Tony Hudgell attacked in prison

He is serving 10 years behind bars for torturing his son Tony Hudgell as a baby

The father of Tony Hudgell has been attacked in prison by inmates using socks filled with tuna tins.

Anthony Smith and his girlfriend Jody Simpson were sentenced to 10 years behind bars at the start of 2018 for torturing their son Tony when he was just six-weeks old to the extent that his legs had to be amputated.

Smith was attacked by two fellow inmates, Michael Stewart and Nathan Odgers, at Swaleside Prison on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Stewart and Odgers were initially unaware of their victim’s identity when they pushed him into his single cell on August 7, 2018.

They had wanted to hold Smith hostage in protest at being held in a notorious part of the jail.

However when other inmates shouted out who Smith was and his horrific crimes, the two men began to attack him with their improvised weapons.

Smith could now be in line for compensation due to the prison service’s obligation to keep all inmates safe.

Stewart was given an extended jail term of eight years and five months for the attack, while Odgers received an extended sentence of nine years and six months.

The incident took place just six months after Smith and Simpson were jailed for their abuse of their son.

The couple were sentenced in February 2018 to the maximum sentence of 10 years for offences of causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child and child cruelty.

Their abuse left their son with broken fingers and toes and torn ligaments in his legs, with the pair waiting 10 days before deciding to take him to a doctor.

Tony, now seven-years-old, has grown up in the care of his adoptive mother, Paula Hudgell.

Last year, the government announced changes to the law that will see abusive parents face tougher sentences. Dubbed ‘Tony’s Law,‘ the maximum penalty for causing child cruelty or allowing serious physical harm has increased from 10 years to 14 years.

And anyone who causes or allows the death of a child or vulnerable adult in their care now faces up to life imprisonment, rather than the current 14-year maximum.

The new measures came into effect last week.

This article was updated on Sunday, May 8.

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