Child cruelty campaigner and mum of inspirational Tony Hudgell backs national inquiry call for Preston Davey

A prominent campaigner who along with her son managed to convince the government to establish a child cruelty register has backed The Gazette’s fight for a public national review into the safeguarding failures that cost little Preston Davey his life.

Inspirational Paula Hudgell and her adopted son Tony, fought and won to establish tougher, lasting consequences for parents and caregivers who physically harm children.

They have added their voices to the 68,000 others who have backed The Gazette, sister title the Lancashire Post and Blackpool MP Chris Webb in calling for a public national review.

Along with Paula and Tony, global superstar Ellie Goulding, campaigner and wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Carrie Johnson, Coronation Street star Nicola Thorp and campaigner Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, who is widely recognised for her work in supporting victims of domestic abuse, receiving a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours and a Pride of Britain Award in 2024, have all added their voice to the campaign.

Tony’s inspirational story

When Tony was just 41 days old, he was brutally beaten by his birth parents and left with fractures all over his body. He was left for up to 10 days without medical help and was at death’s door by the time he reached hospital. Doctors never expected him to survive, but through sheer resilience, he did.

Tony spent three months in hospital and underwent 23 operations. He arrived with the Hudgells as a foster baby. Tony completed the family, who had become so attached to him they decided to formally adopt him.

Tragically, as a result of the abuse, Tony lost both of his legs.

Paula and her husband Mark fought for four years to get his birth parents convicted, and they were eventually given the maximum sentence available at the time, which was 10 years.

After that, they campaigned for Tony’s Law, which helped increase sentences for child cruelty offences. It is because of the Hudgell family Preston Davey’s killer and abuser Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley were given such long sentences.

This year, after eight years of campaigning, the Child Cruelty Offender Register was finally agreed and made law. There had never previously been a register for child abusers. Tony met Sir Keir Starmer in March and was told personally that it was now law.

Tony has also raised more than £2.5million for charity, including through his own Tony Hudgell Foundation, which supports children who are victims of abuse. Of that, £1.8 million was raised for Evelina Hospital, the hospital that saved his life.

He is also the youngest person ever, at just nine-years-old, to receive a King’s honour — the British Empire Medal — for services to children.

Proud mum Paula said: “Tony could so easily have been another tragic child death in a system full of failings, which is why I care so deeply about these issues.”

Announcing the Child Cruelty Register, Sentencing Minister, Jake Richards MP, said: “Child abusers do not deserve shielding; children do. The Child Cruelty Register will ensure these offenders are visible to the police, allowing authorities to see and act when risks arise.

“I thank Paula Hudgell for her remarkable fight to ensure no child should go through the life-altering abuse that her son Tony did.”

Preston Davey deserved better.

Preston Davey was just 13-months-old when he was murdered by the man who was in the process of adopting him. The man he came to know as ‘dad’.

In less than four months, little Preston was sexually assaulted, physically and emotionally abused, and left with 40 non-accidental injuries. He was taken to hospital three times. Social workers visited regularly. His abusers even admitted to having dark thoughts about him. And still, nothing stopped it.

Ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley, 37, was given a whole life sentence for murder, child cruelty, sexual offences and indecent images relating to Preston. His now ex-partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault.

Preston was taken into care by Oldham Council and placed for adoption by regional adoption agency Adoption Now. Blackpool’s children’s services had no involvement in his safeguarding.

But the question that has to be asked - and answered - is how a baby boy in the care of the state could be so badly let down by every system designed to protect him.

Paula Hudgell said: “We are supporting calling for a public national inquiry into Preston Davey’s death because too many vulnerable children are still being failed, and Tony was one of them.

“For 11 years we fought for Tony — fought for him to be heard, fought for him to be protected, fought for the help and support he so desperately needed — because from the moment he came into our lives, it was clear just how easy it is for children to fall through the cracks of a system that is supposed to keep them safe.

“That is why we have spent years campaigning for stronger protections, including Tony’s Law and a child cruelty register, because children cannot keep paying with their lives for professional failings, missed opportunities and a lack of accountability. But the truth is, much more still needs to change.

“We cannot keep hearing the same empty promise that ‘lessons will be learned’ after every child’s death, while the same failures happen again and again.

“Preston’s death must be a line in the sand. It must force this country to face the reality that safeguarding is still not strong enough, accountability is still not strong enough, and protection for our most vulnerable children is still not strong enough.

“We owe it to Preston, to Tony, and to every child who has been failed, to make sure this stops now.”

The Blackpool Gazette, and the Lancashire Post, backed by Blackpool South MP Chris Webb are leading calls to the government to launch a national inquiry.

More than 68,000 people have now signed the petition calling for a public national inquiry and campaigners, charities, fellow MPs and high-profile supporters from across the country have joined those calls.

Blackpool MP Chris Webb has also raised the matter directly with No.10 and personally asked the Prime Minister to establish a public national inquiry.

What is the petition calling for?

The petition is calling on a nation inquiry to answer the following questions:

- Why were repeated warning signs - three hospital admissions, an abuser's own admission of dark thoughts, routine social worker contact - not acted on?

- Should children placed outside their home authority automatically be assigned a local social worker with direct oversight of their care?

- How are repeat hospital admissions for children in care shared between the NHS, the placing authority, and the authority where the child lives?

- Are adoption vetting procedures rigorous enough to stop prospective adopters hiding behind a false front?

We need you to sign this petition and demand the government acts.

Join our calls for a public inquiry by signing our change.org petition here