Jail terms for child cruelty to get longer

TOUGHER sentences for child cruelty are to be introduced in the name of a boy who had both legs amputated after being abused.

Tony’s Law will increase the maximum penalty for causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child from ten to 14 years, while causing the death of a child will rise from 14 years to life.

It is named after Tony Hudgell, now seven. His parents were both jailed for ten years. The amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill follows a campaign by his adoptive parents, Paula and Mark Hudgell, of Kent.