The biological father of young amputee, who abused him as a baby, has been refused parole.

Tony Smith, 52, is serving 10 years in prison for his actions, which resulted in Tony Hudgell, from Kings Hill, having to have both his legs amputated.

Smith, originally from Maidstone, was convicted in February 2018.

The Parole Board which considered his application decided there was a risk Smith would enter a new relationship and gain access to other children.

It concluded it was in the public interest that he remained in prison.

Tony’s adoptive mother, Paula Hudgell, was delighted with the news, saying: ”Smith has never shown any remorse for what he did.

“Even at the parole hearing, he wouldn’t listen to the personal victim statement of the effect his cruelty had on Tony, but chose instead to leave the room.”

“The board concluded that he was still a risk and must stay in prison. We are over the moon.”

In its ruling, the board concluded: "Having considered the evidence before it, the panel listed as risk factors those influences which made it more likely that Mr Smith would reoffend.

"At the time of his offending, these risk factors had included Mr Smith's chaotic life, his abuse of drugs and his use of alcohol.

"He has acted recklessly and impulsively and has struggled to manage extreme emotions.

"The panel considered his relationships, isolation, boredom, poor decision making and an inability to deal with life's problems to be further areas of risk. Specifically, he has no concept of the responsibilities entailed in caring for a child."

In 2021, Tony, who is now eight, won the hearts of the nation by raising £1.5m for the Evelina Children's Hospital in London, which had played a vital role in his care, by doing a sponsored walk on his prosthetic legs.

He was subsequently given a British Citizen Youth Award at the House of Lords.

Tony’s adoptive parents, Paula and Mark, have campaigned relentlessly for tougher sentences for child abusers and were successful in persuading the Government to introduce Tony’s Law, which came into effect in June 2022, under which child abusers can now be sentenced to life imprisonment - the previous maximum had been 14 years.

The Parole Board did not rule out the possibility that Smith could re-apply for parole at a later date.

Tony’s birth mother, Jody Simpson, 30, was also given a 10-year sentence for the abuse she carried out on him.

But she was released in February this year.