Baby P’s mother to remain in jail following latest review by Parole Board
The mother of Baby P, who died after months of abuse, should stay in jail, the Parole Board has decided.
Tracey Connelly, 37, was jailed in 2009 for causing or allowing her 17-month-old son Peter’s death at their home in Tottenham, north London, on August 3 2007.
Known publicly as Baby P, he had suffered more than 50 injuries, despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months.
Connelly admitted the offence soon after being charged and served hundreds of days on remand before she was given an imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence, with a minimum term of five years.
She was let out on licence in 2013 but sent back to prison for breaching her parole conditions in 2015.
Connelly was refused release by the Parole Board in 2015 and 2017 but it was feared she would be freed following a third review of her case on November 25.
The panel rejected a plan for release proposed by Connelly’s probation officer, concluding it was “not robust enough” to manage her in the community, and also blocked a move to an open prison.
A summary of the decision said: “The panel considered that Ms Connelly was appropriately located in closed conditions where remaining levels of risk should be addressed.
“The benefits of a move to open conditions at this time were considered to be limited and to be outweighed by the remaining risks that Ms Connelly represents.”
It added: “After considering the circumstances of her offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel’s view was that Ms Connelly was not suitable for release.
“Furthermore, the panel did not recommend to the Secretary of State that Ms Connelly should be transferred to an open prison.”
It is not yet known when Connelly will be next eligible for a review of her case.
She was jailed with her boyfriend Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen, who were convicted at trial of the same offence.
A series of reviews identified missed opportunities when officials could have saved the toddler’s life if they had acted properly on the warning signs.
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