Mum's anger over child cruelty registry decision

Tony Hudgell was so badly abused as a baby he lost both legs

The adoptive mother of a boy abused so badly as a baby his legs had to be amputated said she was disappointed the government had rejected her proposal for a child cruelty register.

Paula Hudgell from King's Hill, Kent, who cares for Tony, now nine, said there needed to be a better system for monitoring people convicted of hurting children.

In 2018 Tony's birth parents Anthony Smith and Jody Simpson were sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The government has written to Ms Hudgell saying it is not in a position to take forward the idea but there was "nothing more important" than protecting children.

Ms Hudgell had successfully campaigned for the introduction of Tony's Law in 2021, which sees child abusers facing possible life sentences.

She wants the register so those convicted of child cruelty can never work with young people and any future children they have will be taken into care.

But a letter from Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: "Unfortunately the Department for Education is not in a position to be able to develop and deliver a child cruelty register at this time."

The letter highlighted actions being taken, such as reforming social care to help families overcome challenges, and also said work was under way to strengthen how different agencies work with each other.

"There is nothing more important than protecting children from harm," it said. "I assure you having a strong and robust system to safeguard children is a key priority for this government."

Tony's charity fundraising has led to him meeting high-profile personalities such as the Princess of Wales

Ms Hudgell said she was "absolutely disappointed".

"Child cruelty should be right up there as the most heinous crime," she said, "and it's just not being taken seriously."

Despite the setback, she is vowing to continue lobbying the government.

"We've got to keep pushing and pushing. But I won't give up, I won't back down," she said.