THE evil mother of Tony Hudgell, the tot abused so badly his legs were amputated, has been assaulted in her cell and “bullied by other prisoners” behind bars, The Sun can reveal.
Jody Simpson, 31, was locked up for 10 years in 2018 after she and her partner Anthony Smith tortured six-week-old Tony.
Tony Hudgell had to have both his legs amputated in 2017 as a result of abuse[/caption]
Little Tony, now 10 years old, raised £1.8 million for charity during the pandemic by walking 10km on his prosthetic legs inspired by Captain Tom.
Details of his birth mother’s “various difficulties” have emerged during a Parole Board judgment which means her next bid for freedom will be held behind closed doors.
She was released last February but was recalled to prison in June 2024 after breaking her strict licence conditions by having “a relationship with a convicted sex offender”.
An application had been made for her next parole board hearing to be heard in public, rather than in private as is usually the case.
The appeal stated that the proceedings should be able to be reported on because of the “far reaching and profound in respect of life changing injuries caused to Tony”.
Simpson opposed the public hearing because she “should be able to speak openly and honestly about her life, her own mental health, her work in custody including psychotherapy, her time on licence.”
The Parole Board judgement, refusing the public hearing, states: “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.”
It adds: “Ms Simpson continues to receive threats and experience bullying within the prison. There is a lot of name calling and verbal threats to harm her.
“Prior to release she was physically assaulted in her room. She is aware there are prisoners who will follow through with their threats and she tries to do all she can to keep herself safe.
“If a public hearing was granted, more people in the prison (and community) would know of her, and this would make any part of the prison unsafe for her, in turn impacting the prison officers’ ability to maintain order in the prison and protect Ms Simpson from attacks.
“Ms Simpson will in any event be at risk of harm from other prisoners in the establishment and potentially in any future establishment and in the community due to the nature of the index offence and the threats she continually receives in this respect.
“Having a public hearing will cause the threats and bullying to escalate. The index offence stirs up strong feelings, and Ms Simpson has genuine fears for her safety.”
It has also been revealed that she now shows “some remorse for not having done more to protect Tony” but still denies her guilt.
Recognising Tony’s immense strength, Jeremy Roberts KC on behalf of the Chair of the Parole Board said: “It is a tribute to Tony’s resilience and character and to the exemplary care provided by the couple who have adopted him that he is growing up into a fine young man who, despite being unable to do many of the things which he would have liked to do, is making the best of the hand he has been dealt.
“He raised a large sum of money for the NHS during the pandemic. He has received a number of awards for his achievements (the British Empire Medal, a Pride of Britain award and the Order of the British Empire).
“He was watched by millions of people within the United Kingdom and beyond when he received the Pride of Britain Award and he was personally invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
“Tony and his adoptive parents have campaigned successfully for ‘Tony’s Law’ to increase the sentences available to judges in cases of this kind.
“The maximum sentence for causing or allowing injury to a child has now been increased from 10 years (the maximum which could be imposed in this case) to 14 years; and if the injury results in death a sentence of life imprisonment is now available.”
Anthony Smith, 53, who was jailed alongside Simpson for torturing Tony, has also “already been reportedly subject to hostility in prison because of the notoriety of the case”.
It was reported in 2018 that Smith had been assaulted with a sock filled with tuna cans when he was attacked in HMP Swaleside.
Smith will also have his next parole board hearing in private because a public one “could have a detrimental effect on Mr Smith and may hamper his ability to present best evidence”.
Vile mum who abused boy, 8, so badly his legs were amputated back in prison after fling with sex offender
EXCLUSIVE by Emily-Jane Heap
THE evil mother of Tony Hudgell, the tot abused so badly his legs were amputated, is back in jail after a fling with a pervert.
Jody Simpson was recalled to prison after breaking her strict licence conditions by having “a relationship with a convicted sex offender”.
Simpson, 30, and partner Anthony Smith got ten years in 2018 for torturing six-week-old Tony who had multiple injuries, organ failure and sepsis.
She was released last February but Tony’s adoptive mum Paula, 56, was notified last week she was back inside.
She said: “The fact she’s been having a relationship with a convicted sex offender is shocking.
“It proves she’s still a risk to society and belongs behind bars.”
Paula, from West Malling, Kent, said that when she broke the news to Tony, now nine, he said: “Good, that’s where she needs to be.”
Paula hopes Simpson’s jail return will quash any new parole plea.
HM Prison and Probation Service said: “We don’t hesitate to recall offenders to custody if they break the rules.”
Simpson with her partner Tony Smith[/caption]
Prince William and Princess Kate met Tony and Paula in 2021[/caption]
