The evil dad of double amputee Tony Hudgell has had his release from jail blocked by Dominic Raab.
Anthony Smith, who was jailed for 10 years in 2018 for inflicting appalling injuries on his newborn son, was due to be freed this week after serving half his sentence.
But Justice Secretary Mr Raab used new powers in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act to block his automatic release.
It comes a fortnight after he halted the release of Tony’s birth mother Jody Simpson, who was jailed for 10 years.
The pair must now convince parole chiefs they no longer pose a risk before being freed.
Tony’s adoptive mum Paula Hudgell was told the news by her victim liaison officer.
She told the Sunday People : “As we hoped, Mr Raab blocked Smith’s release on the grounds that he too, like Simpson, is still considered a risk to society.
“I was also told there is still no date for Simpson’s parole board hearing and it is unlikely to be any time soon so I imagine it will be the same for Smith – any extra time behind bars is justice.”
Simpson and Smith tortured Tony in 2014 when he was just a few weeks old, leaving him with bone fractures which led to multiple organ failure and sepsis.
They delayed seeking medical treatment for 10 days so by the time the youngster was finally seen by doctors, his injuries were so bad he later had to have both legs amputated at the knee.
Tony, now seven and a Mirror Pride of Britain winner, is also deaf in one ear and has hip, hand, wrist and jaw damage.
Paula, 54, of West Malling, Kent, has listed Tony’s injuries and told how they affect his life in a statement to be used at future parole hearings.
She said: “The injuries run to more than six pages. Tony is still far from being a healthy little boy. He faces further operations and his life will be an endless circle of hospital appointments.”
Simpson and Smith were 24 and 47 when they were convicted of causing or allowing physical harm to a child, and child cruelty.
Mr Raab said: “The first duty of government is to protect the most vulnerable. I will do everything in my power to prevent another child enduring the abuse inflicted on Tony.
“That’s why I’ve put Anthony Smith’s release on hold.”
