All smiles after tot’s court win
A judge has this week taken the unusual step of lifting restrictions surrounding the identity of a young boy left disabled by his biological parents. The decision comes as the community rallies to support Tony Smith who suffered irreparable harm when just over a month old.
His adoptive parents argued the legal ban was hampering offers of help and so Judge Philip Statman lifted the Order at a hearing on Tuesday. Now three, Tony was
just 41 days old when he suffered multiple breaks to his legs and endured life-threatening septicaemia as a result of abuse at the hands of Jody Simpson and Anthony Smith. Judge Statman handed the pair, from Square Hill Road, Maidstone, a 10-year prison sentence last month.
The tennis-mad youngster’s legs have since been amputated but his adoptive mum, Paula Hudgell, is keen to see her son develop his love of sport.
Following lifesaving hospital treatment Tony was adopted by the Hudgell family who were hailed as “absolute stars” by Judge Statman.
Coverage of the case in the KM left Cinque Ports Mobility director Chris French struggling to read to the end of Tony’s traumatic story, but he was determined to help.
Mr French, from Aylesford, visited the family and presented Tony with a wheelchair he can take onto the court. He said: “Tony is absolutely adorable. I wanted to take him home with me. To meet him was so inspirational. I was on the floor like a big kid and his new parents are absolutely wonderful and he is in such a loving environment.”
Mr French and his co-director Chris Cox are now working hard to find ways to further improve Tony’s sporting future.
Mr French said: “I couldn’t finish reading the story about him and when you meet people like him it affects you. He has a lovely NHS wheelchair but he isn’t allowed to use it for sport so we gave him a brand new Active Junior chair.”
We launched a fundraising page for Tony. So far £6,800 has been raised. To donate visit: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/babytony