{{Short description|British fundraiser (born 2014)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}{{Use British English|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Tony Hudgell | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=100|BEM}} | image = | birth_name = Tony Smith | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2014|10|08|df=yes}} | birth_place = Maidstone, Kent, England | known_for = Being abused by his biological mother and father at 41 days old, and for fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic | education = | occupation = | years_active = 2020–present | website = {{URL|tonyhudgellfoundation.org}} | awards = {{plainlist| *Points of Light award (2020) *Pride of Britain Award: Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year (2020) *British Citizen Youth Award (BCyA) (2021) *British Empire Medal (2024) }}}} '''Antony Jasper Hudgell''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|BEM}} (born '''Tony Smith'''; 8 October 2014) is a British fundraiser and recipient of Pride of Britain and UK Points of Light awards.
In 2020, aged five, inspired by Captain Tom Moore’s fundraising walk, he walked {{convert|10|km|mi}} on his prosthetic legs throughout June 2020 and raised £1.8 million for the Evelina London Children's Hospital (NHS), where he had received care after receiving life-changing injuries inflicted by his birth parents when he was a baby.
Hudgell also inspired English law changes. "Tony's Law", enacted in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, increased prison sentences for those convicted of child cruelty and neglect. And, in February 2026, a campaign for a new child safety register resulted in an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill.
== Early life == Originally known as Tony Smith, Hudgell was the son of birth parents Jody Simpson and Anthony Smith, from Whitstable, Kent.<ref name="BBC-19Feb2022">{{cite news |title=Amputee baby's parents jailed for 10 years |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-43113371 |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=BBC News |date=19 February 2022}}</ref> In their Maidstone flat, described by the ''Kent and Sussex Courier'' as "filthy",<ref name="Harrison-21Feb2018">{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=Will |title=Inside the filthy home of Jody Simpson and Tony Smith where their newborn baby was abused |url=https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/inside-filthy-home-jody-simpson-1243641 |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=Kent Live |date=21 February 2018}}</ref> the couple inflicted such severe injuries on their six-week-old baby that his legs eventually had to be amputated. He had been assaulted at 41 days old, resulting in multiple fractures, dislocations and blunt trauma to the face. He was left untreated and in agony for 10 days, causing organ failure, toxic shock and sepsis.<ref name="SKY-11aug2022">{{cite news |title=Mother who abused her child so badly he had to have his legs amputated may be kept in prison |url= https://news.sky.com/story/mother-who-abused-her-child-so-badly-he-had-to-have-his-legs-amputated-may-be-kept-in-prison-12670701 |access-date=12 August 2022 |work=Sky News |date=11 August 2022}}</ref>
Tony was treated at Evelina London Children's Hospital; he suffered eight limb fractures and head trauma which left him deaf in one ear, and had to have 23 operations and eight blood transfusions. Aged three, he had a double amputation at the knees, and his hip is permanently dislocated.<ref name="Roberts-30Jan2022">{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Julia |last2=Drake |first2=Matt |title=Adoptive mum of child abused by birth mother begs 'don't free monster' applying for day release |url=https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/adoptive-mum-child-abused-birth-6573888 |access-date=11 August 2022 |work=Kent Live |date=30 January 2022}}</ref> He was adopted by Mark and Paula Hudgell of Kings Hill in Kent, and renamed '''Tony Hudgell'''.<ref name="BBC-26Jun2020">{{cite news |title=Tony Hudgell, 5, completes 10km walk on prosthetic legs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-53190833 |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=BBC News |date=26 June 2020}}</ref>
In the 2023 New Year Honours, Paula Hudgell was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children.<ref name="BBC-31Dec2022">{{cite news |title=New Years Honours 2023: Tony Hudgell's campaigning mother appointed OBE |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-64127010 |access-date=9 March 2023 |work=BBC News |date=31 December 2022}}</ref>
===Birth parents' convictions=== In February 2018, his birth parents were convicted of child cruelty offences and given 10-year prison sentences (the maximum then available) at Maidstone Crown Court.<ref name="BBC-19Feb2022" /> Simpson and Smith later applied for their sentences to be reduced; Simpson subsequently discontinued her appeal, while Smith's appeal was rejected.<ref name="BBC-11Oct2018">{{cite news |title=Amputee baby's father Tony Smith loses appeal bid |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-45826481 |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=BBC News |date=11 October 2018}}</ref> While in prison in August 2018, Smith was attacked by fellow inmates at HMP Swaleside.<ref name="Harrison-21Feb2018"/><ref name="Hooper-04May2022">{{cite news |last1=Hooper |first1=Paul |title=Man who abused baby so badly his legs were amputated battered with tins of tuna by inmates for two hours |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tony-hudgell-father-prison-attack-b2071376.html |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=Independent |date=4 May 2022}}</ref> After serving five years in prison, including time spent on remand before their trial, Smith and Simpson were set to be released in August 2022.<ref name="Walker-07Aug2022">{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Joe |title=Evil birth parents of abused baby Tony Hudgell to be released this month |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/sickening-news-as-baby-abusers-to-be-released-in-days-271508/ |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=Kent Online |date=7 August 2022}}</ref>
The case of Simpson, earlier transferred to an open prison<ref name="BBC-31Jan2022">{{cite news |title=Tony Hudgell: Shock after abused child's mother moves to open prison |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-60205566 |access-date=16 August 2022 |work=BBC News |date=31 January 2022}}</ref> and who was set to be released at the halfway point on 12 August 2022, was referred to the Parole Board by the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab.<ref name="SKY-11aug2022" /> In December 2022, the High Court ruled Raab's bid to delay the release of Simpson from prison was unlawful.<ref name="Pilgrim-17Dec2022">{{cite news |last1=Pilgrim |first1=Tom |title=Tony Hudgell's mother 'disappointed' after failed bid to delay abuser's release |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/tony-hudgell-dominic-raab-parole-board-tom-tugendhat-justice-b1047918.html |access-date=9 March 2023 |work=Evening Standard |date=17 December 2022}}</ref> Raab appealed against the decision but was overruled, and in February 2023 Simpson was released.<ref name="BBC-03Feb2023">{{cite news |title=Tony Hudgell: Adoptive mother shocked over child abuser's prison release |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-64517234 |access-date=9 March 2023 |work=BBC News |date=3 February 2023}}</ref> However, Simpson subsequently formed a relationship with a sex offender, breaching her release licence conditions, and in May 2024 was recalled to prison,<ref name=ParoleB>{{cite web |title=Application for a Public Hearing in the case of Jody Simpson |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67d835cd4e1deef5a8c15e92/Application_for_a_public_hearing_in_the_case_of_J_Simpson__2025__PBPH_3__13_March_2025_.pdf |website=Parole Board |access-date=26 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Chay |title=Cruel birth mother who left Tony Hudgell needing double amputation back in prison over relationship with sex offender |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/tony-hudgell-mum-jody-simpson-jail-sex-offender-5HjcmNt_2/ |access-date=26 September 2025 |work=LBC |date=9 June 2024}}</ref> where - like Smith - she had been subject to threats and attacks from other prisoners.<ref name=ParoleB/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Charlotte |title=Jody Simpson, abusive mum who abused baby son Tony Hudgell, ‘assaulted’ in prison cell |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/abusive-mum-who-left-son-with-life-changing-injuries-assaul-321524/ |access-date=26 September 2025 |work=KentOnline |date=17 March 2025}}</ref>
On 28 August 2022, Smith's release was also placed on hold and his case referred to the Parole Board.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-62701261 |title=Tony Hudgell: Release of birth father halted under new law on offenders |work=BBC News |date=28 August 2022 }}</ref> In June 2023, Smith's application to the Parole Board was rejected and he was set to remain in prison until the end of his sentence in September 2027.<ref name="BBC-06Jun2023">{{cite news |title=Amputee baby's father Tony Smith loses parole appeal bid |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-65823754 |access-date=26 October 2023 |work=BBC News |date=6 June 2023}}</ref>
Following further separate parole board hearings, both in June 2025, Simpson and Smith were granted early release from prison in June and July 2025 respectively after spending seven years behind bars.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mum who abused son so badly he had to have his legs amputated to be freed from prison |url=https://news.sky.com/story/mum-who-abused-son-so-badly-he-had-to-have-his-legs-amputated-to-be-freed-from-prison-13379546 |access-date=26 September 2025 |work=Sky News |date=5 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="BBC-03Jul2023">{{cite news |title=Tony Hudgell's birth father to be freed from jail |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15wljv5vdko.amp |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=BBC News | date=3 July 2025}}</ref>
==Life after injury== ===Fundraising=== In June 2020, aged five and inspired by Captain Tom Moore's NHS fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tony Hudgell set out to raise £500 for Evelina London Children's Hospital by walking {{cvt|10|km}} on his prosthetic legs.<ref name="BBC-08Jun2020">{{cite news |title=Amputee schoolboy Tony Hudgell raises £320,000 for NHS |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-52966359 |access-date=11 August 2022 |work=BBC News |date=8 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBC-26Jun2020" /> The figure quickly topped £1 million,<ref name="BBC-26Jun2020" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Inspiring five-year-old raises over £1 million for hospital that saved him |url=https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/news/inspiring-five-year-old-raises-over-ps1-million-hospital-saved-him |access-date=10 August 2022 |website=Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust |language=en-GB}}</ref> with the final amount raised totalling £1.7 million.<ref name=BBC>{{Cite news |date=9 August 2022 |title=Tony Hudgell receives award for his sponsored walks |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-62483641 |access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref>
The Tony Hudgell Foundation aims to enhance the lives of children who have been affected by physical, emotional and psychological abuse.<ref name="KOL">{{Cite web |date=8 October 2021 |title=Brave Tony gets birthday surprise on This Morning |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/brave-tony-gets-birthday-surprise-on-this-morning-255348/ |access-date=10 August 2022 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tony Hudgell Foundation |url=https://www.tonyhudgellfoundation.org/ |access-date=10 August 2022 |website=Tony Hudgell Foundation |language=en-GB}}</ref> In December 2025, the Foundation raised more than £120,000 to take families affected by abuse on a Christmas trip to Lapland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boy, 11, who lost legs after abuse takes families to Lapland |website=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33m2m1ll76o |access-date=16 January 2026}}</ref>
===Honours and awards=== Hudgell received a Points of Light award in September 2020.<ref name="PoLight">{{cite web |title=Tony's 10k Walk – 1413: Tony Hudgell |url=https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/tonys-10k-walk/ |website=Points of Light |date=30 June 2020 |publisher=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street |access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref> At a Points of Light reception at 10 Downing Street on 9 August 2022, Hudgell was thanked by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his fundraising efforts,<ref name=BBC /> and for inspiring legal changes — 'Tony's Law' — to prevent future suffering.<ref name="Gov-09Aug2022">{{cite news |title=PM remarks at Points of Light Downing Street reception: 9 August 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-remarks-at-points-of-light-downing-street-reception-9-august-2022 |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=Gov.UK |date=9 August 2022}}</ref>
Hudgell was also presented with a Pride of Britain Award in November 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prideofbritain.com/history/2020|title = Displaying items by tag: 2020 winner – Pride of Britain Awards}}</ref> under the ‘Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser’ category and received a British Citizen Youth Award at the House of Lords in October 2021.<ref name="Walker-07Aug2022" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Youth Honours October 2021|url=https://www.britishcitizenawards.co.uk/youth-honours-october-2021/|access-date=5 November 2021|website=Home|language=en-GB}}</ref>
Hudgell was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to the prevention of child abuse.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=64269|supp=y|page=N34|date=30 December 2023}}</ref> He is the youngest ever recipient of the medal.<ref name=BBC67841156>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-67841156 |title=New Years Honours 2024: Tony Hudgell, 9, youngest to receive medal |work=BBC News |date=29 December 2023 |access-date=30 December 2023 }}</ref> He was invited to a royal garden party in May 2024, but after being unable to attend due to a M20 traffic jam, received a fresh invitation from Buckingham Palace.<ref name="BBC-08May2024">{{cite news |title=Palace says 'leave it with us' after boy misses party |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp4geqq5ydlo |access-date=9 May 2024 |work=BBC News |date=8 May 2024}}</ref> He attended a private gathering with Queen Camilla in London on 26 June 2024, when he also received his BEM.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fuller |first1=Christian |title=Queen Camilla hosts boy who missed garden party |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy94gqjq41lo |access-date=1 July 2024 |work=BBC News |date=1 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= The Queen hosts garden party for Tony Hudgell and Lyla O'Donovan|url= https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2024-07-01/the-queen-hosts-garden-party-for-tony-hudgell-and-lyla-odonovan |access-date=1 July 2024 |work= The Royal Family |date=1 July 2024}}</ref>
===Football=== In September 2020, Hudgell became the first-team mascot of Kings Hill FC.<ref name="KHFC">{{cite web |title=Tony Hudgell – Mascot for 1st team |url=https://www.kingshillfc.org/news/tony-hudgell---mascot-for-1st-team |website=Kings Hill FC |access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref> A supporter of Chelsea,<ref name="Heap-22Aug2022">{{cite news |last1=Heap |first1=Emily-Jane |title=Double amputee's 'dream comes true' meeting football hero Mason Mount and rest of Chelsea squad |url=https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/double-amputees-dream-comes-true-5818576 |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=Kent Live |date=22 August 2021}}</ref> he was presented with Chelsea UEFA Champions League tickets on his 7th birthday on the ITV breakfast show ''This Morning'' in October 2021,<ref name="KOL"/> and he joined the English Lionheart squad, the Football Association's group of 23 everyday heroes – "inspirational individuals who went above and beyond during the nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic".<ref name="Heap-22Aug2022" />
==Legal impacts== ==='Tony's Law'=== In 2018, the Hudgells started a petition to campaign for tougher sentences for child cruelty and neglect,<ref name="BBC-11Oct2018" /> and their cause was taken up by their local MP for Tonbridge and Malling, Tom Tugendhat, who introduced a Child Cruelty (Sentences) Bill in the House of Commons in 2019.<ref name="BBC-11Sep2020">{{cite news |title=Tony Hudgell: MP calls for tougher child cruelty sentences |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-54109277 |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=BBC News |date=11 September 2020}}</ref> The Bill did not progress after the December 2019 United Kingdom general election, but in September 2020 Tugendhat urged its reintroduction and the government said it would hold further discussions.<ref name="BBC-11Sep2020"/>
'Tony's Law' was eventually enacted in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and introduced tougher sentencing powers, including potential life sentences, for child abusers in England and Wales.<ref name="BBC-21Nov2021">{{cite news |title=Tony's Law: Plans for tougher child abuse sentences confirmed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-59473851 |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=BBC News |date=21 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="Arahu-09Aug2022">{{cite news |last1=Arahu |first1=Esra |title=Tony's Law: What is it, and how did it come into effect? |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tony-s-law-what-is-it-and-how-did-it-come-into-effect-b1017518.html |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=Evening Standard |date=9 August 2022}}</ref> The maximum sentence for causing or allowing a child's death was increased from 14 years to life, while the maximum penalty for causing serious harm to a child was increased from 10 to 14 years.<ref name="BBC-28Jun2022">{{cite news |title=Tony's Law: Child abusers face tougher sentences as law changes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-61954657 |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=BBC News |date=28 June 2022}}</ref>
===Child safety register=== In February 2026, the Hudgells' campaign for a new child safety register was set to succeed. Parents guilty of neglect will face similar monitoring to sex offenders following an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. The register will cover child neglect, child abuse, abandonment, female genital mutilation and infanticide. Registrants will need to inform police if they move house, change identity, travel abroad or live with children after serving their sentence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Catherine |title=Boy, 11, wins campaign for new UK child cruelty register |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3gxkn453ro |access-date=28 February 2026 |work=BBC News |date=27 February 2026}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.tonyhudgellfoundation.org/ Tony Hudgell Foundation website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hudgell, Tony}} Category:2014 births Category:21st-century English people Category:Living people Category:Fundraising Category:British amputees Category:Charity events in the United Kingdom Category:People from Tonbridge and Malling (district) Category:Child abuse incidents and cases Category:Charity fundraisers (people) Category:British children Category:Recipients of the British Empire Medal