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Amputee baby's parents jailed for 10 years Amputee baby's parents jailed for 10 years
(about 1 hour later)
A man and woman who injured their six-week-old baby boy so badly his legs had to be amputated, have been jailed for 10 years.A man and woman who injured their six-week-old baby boy so badly his legs had to be amputated, have been jailed for 10 years.
Jody Simpson, 24, and Tony Smith, 46, from Whitstable, Kent, had denied assaulting, ill treating or neglecting their child.Jody Simpson, 24, and Tony Smith, 46, from Whitstable, Kent, had denied assaulting, ill treating or neglecting their child.
They were both given the maximum sentence possible by Judge Philip Statman at Maidstone Crown Court.They were both given the maximum sentence possible by Judge Philip Statman at Maidstone Crown Court.
Each of the defendants has numerous previous convictions.Each of the defendants has numerous previous convictions.
Smith has 11 convictions, including burglary and one offence occasioning actual bodily harm, while Simpson was convicted five times for shoplifting and burglary in 2017. Judge Statman said: "Baby Tony suffered eight fractures to the bones in his tiny body, stretching through all parts of his body.
The court heard they previously lived together in a tent in Canterbury before moving to a flat in Maidstone. "The force to break the bones of baby Tony would have needed to have been vigorous.... caused by sudden twisting and yanking."
In mitigation, John Baker, defending Simpson, said she "saved baby Tony's life by rushing him to the doctors that day". He said he could see "no remorse" in either of them and added: "When eventually you took your baby to the GP at midday it's not exaggeration to say that he was almost at the door of death.
But Judge Statman interrupted and said "she did not rush him to the doctors" because, he stated, she did not call 999 or seek help from a neighbour on realising something was wrong, instead he was taken to the doctors a few hours later. "He has suffered truly life-changing injuries, a missing hip joint, he is deaf in one ear and both his legs have been amputated."
On arrival an expert said he was "moribund" and hospital X-rays revealed 11 fractures and septicaemia. He told Smith that by waiting for a plumber instead of going to the doctors immediately "you failed to protect your baby's needs".
Defence barrister Ben Irwin told the court that Smith came to be a father very late in life and "had hopes and dreams for his family which are no more". He said to Simpson: "You told the jury of your love for Mr Smith, even after these events you remained in a relationship with him.
Tony Smith Jr had been adopted and is now a happy child, the court heard. "You put your relationship with Tony Smith before the care for your baby."
Smith has 11 previous convictions, including burglary and one offence occasioning actual bodily harm, while Simpson was convicted five times for shoplifting and burglary in 2017.
The court heard they lived together in a tent in Canterbury before moving to a flat in Maidstone.
Tony Smith Jr has now been adopted and is growing up happy, the court heard.