£8 AN HOUR BARRISTER
Tony’s mum backs brief who nailed evil abusers
THE adoptive mum of Tony Hudgell has backed striking barristers after hearing the lawyer who nailed his abusers was paid the equivalent of just over £8 an hour.
Campaigning Paula Hudgell has written a letter to Justice Secretary Dominic Raab urging him to help end the dispute.
She is supporting Heather Stangoe, who is among lawyers fighting for better pay and legal aid funding.
The highly experienced brief prosecuted Tony’s biological parents, Jody Simpson and Anthony Smith, four years ago.
After a complicated trial, the evil pair were jailed for 10 years each for causing injuries that led to Tony losing his legs as a baby. Ms Stangoe was paid a brief fee of £1,060 but the job took 130 hours, including reading and preparing – equating to pay of just over £8 an hour, below the minimum wage for over-23s.
Ms Stangoe, 47, was close to quitting because of the pressures of work and was only persuaded to carry on by Paula.
Paula, 54, of West Malling, Kent, said: “Heather was incredible and I am convinced we would not have got the convictions without her vast knowledge, time and experience. The justice system needs skilful barristers such as
Heather to stay. They are a formidable asset the Government simply cannot afford to lose.
“I know how close she has come to giving it all up and absolutely stand by her decision to strike. I sincerely hope Mr Raab can find a way to talk and support her and her colleagues in the same way he has supported both Tony’s Law and us as a family.” Earlier this year Mr Raab backed tougher sentences for those convicted of child cruelty, like Tony’s parents – part of her campaign for Tony’s Law.
He has also promised to stop the twisted couple’s impending release until they have convinced the Parole Board it is safe. Tony, now seven, has become a national hero after raising £1.7million for Evelina London Children’s Hospital, which saved his life after his abuse ordeal. Criminal barristers often earn less than the minimum wage in their first three years. But the Ministry of Justice says the strike is unjustified, with a 15% pay increase on offer.