A judge has taken the unusual step of lifting restrictions surrounding the identity of a young boy left disabled by his biological parents.

The decision comes as the community rallies to support Tony Smith, now known as Tony Hudgell, who suffered irreparable harm when just over a month old.

His adoptive parents argued the legal ban was hampering offers of help and so Judge Philip Statman lifted the order at a hearing.

Now three, Tony, affectionately also called Bear, was just 41 days old when he suffered multiple breaks to his legs and endured life-threatening septicaemia as a result of abuse at the hands of Jody Simpson and Anthony Smith.

Judge Statman handed the pair, from Square Hill Road, Maidstone, a 10-year prison sentence last month.

The tennis-mad youngster’s legs have since been amputated but his adoptive mum, Paula Hudgell, is keen to see her son develop his love of sport.

Following lifesaving hospital treatment Tony was adopted by the Hudgell family who were hailed as “absolute stars” by Judge Statman.

Coverage of the case in the Kent Messenger left Cinque Ports Mobility director Chris French struggling to read to the end of Tony’s traumatic story, but he was determined to cater for his fledgling tennis career.

Mr French, from Aylesford, visited the family and presented Tony with a wheelchair he can take onto the court.

He said: “Tony is absolutely adorable. I wanted to take him home with me. To meet him was so inspirational.

“I was on the floor like a big kid and his new parents are absolutely wonderful and he is in such a loving environment.

“As soon as I left their house I phoned my colleague and told him he has to meet him.”

Mr French and his co-director Chris Cox are now working hard to find ways to further improve Tony’s sporting future.

Mr French said: “To see him and how he is bombing around at the house was amazing.

“I couldn’t finish reading the whole story about him and when you meet people like him day in day out it affects you.

"Tony is absolutely adorable...to meet him was so inspirational" - Chris French

“He has a lovely NHS wheelchair but he isn’t allowed to use it for sport so we gave him a brand new Active Junior chair so he has what he needs to play tennis.

“We are doing anything we can do to help him enjoy sports and we are looking at other clubs for him and we are doing a lot behind the scenes.”

Following the conviction and sentencing of Tony’s birth parents the KM launched a fundraising page to help give him a bright future after a tough start.

So far £6,800 has been raised and the page is still accepting donations. Click here to donate

Posting on the page Tony’s older sister Chloe Cooke said: “Myself and my family cannot thank each and everyone of you enough for your kind words and incredibly generous donations.

“Our family thanks our lucky stars each and everyday to have this little angel in our lives."