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Paula Hudgell praised the judge in the Sara Sharif case for using tougher sentencing under Tony’s Law, which now allows life sentences for causing child deaths, increasing justice for victims
The mum of Tony Hudgell has praised the judge in the Sara Sharif case for using tougher new sentencing powers she fought for.
Tony’s Law, championed by 57-year-old 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. Malik lived with 10-year-old Sara’s family and was found guilty of allowing her death. Sara died after a vicious campaign of torture, with injuries including fractures, burns, bruising and trauma to her head.
Her father, Urfan Sharif, 43, and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, were both found guilty of her murder. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve minimum jail terms of 40 years and 33 years respectively. The Old Bailey heard that Sara’s injuries had been so severe the postmortem had failed to identify a cause of death.
It concluded she had died from complications from multiple injuries and neglect. Her body was found in her bed at the family home in Woking, Surrey, with a note saying her father had “lost it” but had not intended for her to die. The family, including her uncle, fled to Pakistan but returned after an international manhunt. All three were sentenced on December 17.
The new maximum life term came into law in April 2022. Paula, from West Malling, Kent, said: “It was a bittersweet moment when I saw Sara’s uncle had been handed 16 years in prison. As far as I know, this is the first time that Tony’s law has been used. Under the old rules, he likely would only have got eight or 10 years. We’re all pleased the new sentencing powers have been used. But no amount of time would be enough.”
The judge, Mr Justice Cavanagh, described the degree of cruelty by Sara’s father and stepmother as “almost inconceivable”. Paula added: “I’m pleased the judge was brave enough to raise it to 16 years. I’m certain he gave it with the appeals court in mind, as Malik could easily appeal the high sentence. I know that I – and the general public – will all be of the opinion that the sentence is not long enough.
“But the judge has to think of the legalities. After the sentencing I was chatting with my fellow campaigners, including MP Tom Tugendhat, about how pleased we are. It wouldn’t have been possible without Tom’s support – without him by my side Tony’s Law would never have happened. And I think 16 years does feel a bit more like justice for Sara.”
