Mum who abused six-week-old son so badly he lost both legs is freed from prison early

An evil mum who abused her six-week-old son so badly he lost his legs has been released from prison.

Jody Simpson, 33, and her partner Tony Smith, 54, were sentenced to 10 years in prison in February 2018 after inflicting multiple fractures, dislocations and blunt trauma to Tony Hudgell's face. The little boy was left untreated and in agony for 10 days.

Tony, who is now 10 years old, was adopted by Mark and Paula Hudgell. In recent years, he raised £1.8million for charity - mostly during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he walked 10km (six miles) on his prosthetic legs. The double-amputee, who also received a British Empire Medal for his fundraising effort, faces life-long challenges due to the injuries he suffered as a baby.

READ MORE: Evil mum who tortured Tony Hudgell so badly he lost his legs is attacked in jail

Today, Simpson was freed from prison following a risk assessment by the Parole Board. She will face strict conditions including on her movements and contact with others. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told The Mirror: "This was a horrific crime that saw Tony Hudgell mercilessly tortured by his birth parents and our thoughts remain with him and his loved ones.

"Now that Jody Simpson has been released as directed by the Independent Parole Board, she will be subject to strict supervision and licence conditions. She faces an immediate return to prison if she breaks the rules."

Paula, who adopted Tony when he was a baby, said "it just feels very unfair" that Simpson is "now free to live her life" while Tony "is still dealing with the consequences of her actions and will be for life." She also revealed she is campaigning for a national Child Cruelty Register to be introduced to ensure the safety of children.

Speaking to The Sun, the adoptive mum said: "I appreciate there is a prison overcrowding crisis and that the Parole Board has placed strict conditions on her, but it does not feel like enough. After her license expires in two years time she will be completely free to do whatever she wants - including getting in a situation where she could cause harm to more children. That is why I am campaigning for a national Child Cruelty Register to be introduced.

"It would work in a similar way to the sex offenders register and would mean people like Simpson would be monitored for life to prevent her hurting anymore innocent kids. Nothing can change what they did to Tony, but by bringing in this measure we could stop horrific incidents of abuse and neglect from happening in the future."

Simpson was first released from prison on license in February 2023. She was recalled in May 2024 after starting a relationship with a sex offender - in breach of her conditions. An application had been made for Simpson's subsequent Parole Board hearing to be heard in public, rather than in private as is usually the case.

However, the public hearing was refused, as the Parole Board said: "Ms Simpson's behaviour in custody seems to have been good. On many occasions she was bullied by other prisoners who were aware of the nature of her offences and of the extensive publicity given to the case in the media. This has caused various difficulties for her during her sentence, which need not be detailed here."

Authorising Simpson's release earlier this month, the Parole Board said: "We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Jody Simpson following an oral hearing. Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

"A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims. Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

"Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing. It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."