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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Louie Smith & Lisa Hodge

Boy, 6, who had to have legs amputated after horrific abuse, walks for the first time

A six-year-old boy who was abused so badly by his own parents he had to have his legs amputated, has walked for this first time.

Tony Hudgell was just a one-month-old baby when he was admitted to the Evelina London Children's Hospital in Southwark, South East London, with multiple fractures, multiple organ failure and sepsis after being tortured by parents Jody Simpson, 24, and Tony Smith, 47.

Doctors battled for six weeks to save the tot and finally had to amputate both his legs from the knee.

Tony Hudgell, six, who was abused so badly by his own parents he had to have his legs amputated, has walked for this first time. (Paula Hudgell / SWNS.COM)

His biological parents Simpson and smith were both jailed for child cruelty and received the maximum sentence of 10 years - however they could be eligible for release as early as September 2022 after serving only half their sentence.

Brave Tony was adopted by Mark and Paula Hudgell and her husband Mark and last year the plucky youngster raised an incredible £1.5million for the hospital that saved his life by walking 10km on his prosthetics with crutches, writes The Mirror.

But the youngster, who won the Pride of Britain award has now ditched his crutches and walked unaided for the first time - he young managing 500 steps over four days and raised another £70,000.

Tony Hudgell, six, who was abused so badly by his own parents he had to have his legs amputated, has walked for this first time. (PA)

Proud mum Paula, 53, said Tony was inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore and started his latest charity walk on Friday, which would have been Capt Sir Tom's 101st birthday.

Paula, of Kings Hill, Kent, said: "Tony wanted to mark his birthday by taking part in the 100 steps challenge.

"We knew from previous challenges that Tony would probably beat it but he smashed it, completing more than 500 steps over the four days."

She said "incredible" Tony now plans to learn to Moonwalk like pop star Michael Jackson.

Paula is campaigning for the maximum penalty for such offences to be increased to life.

She also wants a register of convicted child abusers under what would be known as Tony's Law.

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