A press agency court reporter has spoken of her pride in working on a successful campaign to bring in tougher punishments on those convicted of child cruelty offences.

Julia Roberts, 50, pictured with Tony Hudgell, has championed the campaign since covering the original trial of seven-year-old double amputee Tony Hudgell’s biological parents at Maidstone Crown Court for the Ferrari Press Agency nearly four years ago.

And when Tony’s Law was officially backed by the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday, the experienced court reporter even got recognised in the Government department’s press release.