Latest news with #remorse
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Cowardly mum tortured my boy so severely he lost both his legs – she has no remorse for her heinous, life-altering crime
A MUM has been jailed after her baby son received horrific, life changing injuries which resulted in him losing both his legs has shown no remorse, according to his adoptive family. Jody Simpson, 33, and her partner Anthony Smith were both jailed after little Tony Hudgell, now 10, was abused so badly as a baby that he ended up with multiple catastrophic injuries to his legs, hips and face. 6 And, despite her time in prison, Simpson still does not show remorse for what she did, according to Paula Hudgell, who adopted Tony when he was a baby. Simpson is due to be released from prison imminently after a Parole Board ruled that she was no longer a risk to the public. Paula, 57, said: 'In my view Jody has shown no remorse at all. 'She is still a high risk to children and refuses to face up to what she has done to Tony. 'The parole board say they believe they will be able to manage her in the community, but she has already proved she is not trustworthy by starting a relationship with a sex offender the last time she was out. 'It just shows the sort of person she is, totally remorseless and still a danger to children. 'For us, the worst part is that in two years her license conditions will end and she will be free to do whatever she wants, maybe even have another child. 'That is our worst nightmare, that this person, who simply is not sorry for what she's done, will inflict this suffering on another innocent kid.' Paula, from West Malling, Kent has been campaigning for the introduction of a child cruelty register, similar to a sex offenders register, which would allow authorities to keep track of child abusers after their license expires. Simpson will be released from prison after the Parole Board deemed she would not be a risk to the public, according to documents released earlier this week. Speaking ahead of her release, Paula said: 'We knew this was coming after being at the parole hearing and in light of what the Government is doing to ease prison crowding, so it was expected. Boy, 6, killed in 'exorcism' with body found wrapped in cloth as mom 'insists God told her to force demons out of him' 'The frustration for us is that she will be on license for two years and then will be able to live a happy life, whereas Tony will have life long problems because of her and Anthony Smith's actions. 'We made the change with Tony's law and now future cases are supposed to get lengthier sentences. 'But with the Government's new policy to release prisoners including child abusers and paedophiles early it sort of makes a mockery of that new sentencing power. 'We are grateful that Shabana Mahmood stepped in and blocked her from being released without a parole hearing, that meant she was in prison longer than she would have been otherwise, but it just feels wrong that she should be free while Tony has to live with the consequences of her actions for life. 'All the politicians we speak to on both sides know about Tony's case, which I think has helped. 'They all know the story and see that despite his limitations Tony is still just a normal 10 year old boy who just wants to do all the things normal 10 year old boys do. 'I think that has helped our campaign, and now we just want to use that to make sure child abusers are properly punished.' Simpson was first jailed in 2018 for 10 years after being convicted of causing or allowing a child to sustain an injury and neglect by failing to seek immediate medical attention Doctors discovered baby Tony had multiple catastrophic injuries to his tiny body - with both his birth parents failing to get him help before it was almost too late. The evil pair then waited 10 agonising days to get Tony the help he needed - with the tot almost dying due to infection. Both of his legs were amputated and the brave 10-year-old faces ongoing struggles due to the severity of the injuries inflicted on him. She was released on license in February 2023, but was back in jail by May 2024 having breached her license by starting a relationship with a sex offender. The abuser was due to be automatically re-released earlier this year, but Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood stepped in – forcing Simpson to face a parole hearing on May 19. She will be released from prison in the coming weeks, with strict license conditions including reporting any new relationships to her probation officer, regular drug tests, a curfew and being fitted with a GPS tag. Little Tony was a guest of honour at a Buckingham Palace garden party last month where he met Prince William. He has been recognised for his extraordinary fundraising efforts. In 2020, aged just 5, Tony Hudgell decided to try and raise £509 for the Evelina Children's Hospital by walking 10km on his prosthetic legs. In total, he raised an amazing £1.8 million for the hospital which saved his life. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'This was a horrific crime that saw Tony Hudgell mercilessly tortured by his birth parents and our thoughts remain with him and his loved ones. 'Now that the independent Parole Board has directed her release, Jody Simpson will be subject to strict supervision and licence conditions. She faces an immediate return to prison if she breaks the rules.' A Parole Board spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Jody Simpson following an oral hearing. "Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. 'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims. 'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. "Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing. "It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. 'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority." 6 6 6 6
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Pensioner driver, 84, killed his passenger and another motorist after falling into a micro sleep - but is spared jail over his 'genuine remorse'
A retired grandfather who nodded off behind the wheel after a day out, leaving two people dead and another seriously injured, has been spared jail. Andrew Nicoll, now 84, was driving home to Whitley Bay after a countryside walk when his Mazda drifted into oncoming traffic on the A69 – slamming head-on into a Skoda Fabia in a horrifying collision. Tragically, Nicoll's close friend and passenger, 81-year-old Keith Aiston, and Catherine Elford, 68, a mother-of-three travelling in the Skoda, were both killed instantly. The crash happened just before 6pm on November 30 2023, on a dark, unlit stretch of the road near Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, as the pensioner made the near two-hour journey home without stopping for a break. Newcastle Crown Court heard the likely cause was that Nicoll, a keen walker and amateur photographer, had either fallen asleep or suffered a 'micro-sleep' – drifting off for just seconds. Despite the carnage, the court was told Nicoll, who had been driving for over 50 years without incident, was not under the influence of drink or drugs, nor was he using a phone or overtaking. Now, the elderly driver has been spared jail after admitting causing death by careless driving – as a judge heard of his deep remorse and the emotional toll the tragedy has taken on him and the victims' shattered families. The court heard the pensioners had been walking that day before setting off from Borrowdale to drive home. He had not stopped as he did not feel the need and said he had no recollection of anything since being in the car park in the Lake District. As Nicoll travelled east of Haydon Bridge, his car went into the west bound lane and collided head-on with the Skoda, driven by Mr Elford, with his wife in the car, as they travelled home towards Haltwhistle. There was then a further collision as the Skoda rebounded into a Land Rover Discovery. The driver of the Land Rover, Adam Maquire, who had been travelling in front of Nicoll's Mazda, said he noticed it momentarily appear alongside his car, on the wrong side of the road, before it collided head on with the Skoda. Mr Maquire suffered relatively minor injuries as the Skoda then hit his car. People at the scene tried to do CPR on Mrs Elford and tried to help the unresponsive Mr Aiston but both died at the scene. Mr Elford suffered fractures to his ribs, wrist and tibia and also had lacerations to his hand and needed an operation to remove glass from it. The court heard Mr Aiston's wife of 56 years and his three daughters and grandchildren have been left shattered by his death and left feeling 'pain and anguish'. The family of Mrs Elford, a mother-of-three, have also been left devastated by their pain and loss. Nicoll was also injured and was repeatedly asking about the welfare of his friend and said a number of times: 'I can't remember what happened.' Nicoll pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving and one of causing serious injury by careless driving. He was sentenced to 12 months suspended for 12 months with a five-year driving ban and he must pay £600 costs. Judge Edward Bindloss told him: 'What happened was, and the evidence is, you must have fallen asleep at the wheel and your car went from the east bound lane to the west bound lane suddenly and relatively quickly. The evidence from the police investigator was your foot must have gently accelerated the car, which is also consistent with you falling asleep. 'I've seen footage from the dash cam of the Skoda and it all happened really quickly, suddenly and shockingly. 'You had been walking in the Lake District that day and, having set off at 4, this drive would have been just short of two hours. You had not stopped on the way and that may provide an explanation for you falling asleep.' The judge said Nicoll has a high level of remorse and said references describe him as a 'kind, considerate, caring man, a man of integrity, honesty and respect'. Mark Harrison, defending, said Nicoll was accustomed to driving relatively long distances and would have stopped to rest if he had felt the need. Mr Harrison said the keen walker and photographer had not been on an arduous walk that day. He added: 'He is a retired man with a successful career behind him and an extremely supportive family. His family, like the defendant, have had, at the forefront of their thoughts, the impact on others.' Nicoll wrote a letter in which he said he was 'deeply sorry for the terrible hurt caused to the bereaved families'. Mr Harrison said Nicoll, who suffered serious injuries himself, including six broken ribs, has been deeply affected by what happened and his health has deteriorated. He added: 'He has expressed genuine remorse and empathy.'
ABC News
28-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Former senior church member sentenced for sexual assault of teen girl
A former senior member of a South Australian church will spend at least four months behind bars after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the early 2000s. The 50-year-old man, from Christies Beach, was sentenced in South Australia's District Court on Wednesday after previously pleading guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse. In sentencing, Judge Liesl Kudelka said she accepted the man was "genuinely remorseful and [had] taken steps in the past to apologise" but that he "should have known better". "I do not consider there is any risk of you reoffending, however the harm is done." Prosecutor Mitch Mott previously told the court the man was a "respected" member of the Impact Church at the time and had shown "continuing interest in the complainant". Judge Kudelka outlined the events of that evening in her sentence and said the teenager had been staying with the then 29-year-old man to help look after his two children while his wife was away. "The two of you drank alcohol together, I understand it was not usual for you to drink alcohol, you kissed her when you were both sitting on the couch, the two of you then moved to the bedroom [where the charged offending occurred]," she said. "In the next day or so you drove [her] to a playground and kissed her when you were both at the top of the play equipment. "You say you were trying to explain to her that the sexual contact that happened before should not have happened and could not continue. "It seems, however, you didn't do a very good job of that on that day because you ended up kissing her." The kiss in the days after the offending is not subject to any charges. Judge Kudelka said the teenager was "vulnerable and struggling with challenges" at the time of the offending and "feels [the man] groomed her". "As a 29-year-old man you took sexual advantage of a 14-year-old child," she said. The man was sentenced to 16-months' imprisonment which was reduced to 12-months due to his early guilty plea. He will be eligible for parole in four months.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment killer driver overtakes bus and ploughs head-on into OAP's car: Man is jailed for smash that killed 87-year-old as she tried to make the short trip to buy her newspaper
This is the moment a driver overtook a bus and ploughed in to an elderly woman's car, killing her as he sped down the road. Matthew Parrott, 42, overtook a bus on a road with double white lines and collided with an oncoming Ford Fiesta car, killing 87-year-old Margaret Lee who was out to buy her morning paper. Parrot was jailed for three years on Thursday and his defence described him as 'genuinely remorseful'. The court heard that despite passing a sign warning of hidden dips and 'slow' being written on the road, the driver made the dangerous manoeuvre and overtook the bus which was driving at 42mph along a 50mph road. Parrott from Bewtown, mid Wales, admitted causing the death of Ms Lee by driving his Honda Civic dangerously on the A458 at Middletown, between Welshpool and Shrewsbury on November 27, 2023. The pensioner, who lived locally and was driving just a short distance from her home to buy a newspaper that morning, had 'catastrophic' injuries. Mr Parry said she died at the regional trauma unit at Stoke on Trent the same day. Dafydd Roberts, defending, said Parrott was 'struggling to come to terms with the fact his actions resulted in the death.' He added: 'This is someone genuinely remorseful.' There were no previous convictions and Parrott was successful in his career. Judge Timothy Petts imposed a six-and-a-half years ban with an extended test. He told Parrott: 'It's clear Margaret Lee had absolutely no chance to avoid what happened. There was no need to overtake and clearly an unsafe place to overtake.' The judge said Parrott had lost concentration for a few seconds and thought, wrongly, that he had time to pass the bus. 'Only a sentence of imprisonment will do,' Judge Petts added.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- RNZ News
Friend of driver of car in Martinborough bike crash speaks out
A close friend of the driver of a car involved in a tragic collision in Martinborough said his remorse weighed heavily on him in his final months following the crash. 48-year-old Alison Robyn Korny died and three others were seriously injured when Alan Leatham's car struck the four-seater bike they were riding on Puruatanga Road on February 13. Reporter Bill Hickman spoke to Lisa Owen. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
