MUM BACKS JUDGE FOR USE OF TONY'S LAW IN SARA CASE

THE mum of Tony Hudgell has praised the judge in the Sara Sharif case for using tougher new sentencing powers she fought for.

- ELEANOR GUNN

Tony's Law, championed by 57-yearold Paula Hudgell, increased the maximum sentence to life in prison for causing or allowing the death of a child.

It had previously been just 14 years. Tony, 10, who inspired the law, had been so severely injured by his birth parents as a baby that he had to have both legs amputated.

His parents got only 10 years in prison each - the maximum sentence at the time for causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child.

Paula, who adopted Tony as a tot, was so horrified that she began campaigning for stricter punishment for child cruelty abusers.

In what is thought to be a legal first, Sara Sharif's uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, has now been jailed for 16 years thanks to Tony's Law.