The killer mum of Baby P has been to lose weight after being refused a new identity as she prepares for freedom. Tracey Connelly pleaded guilty of causing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter, who suffered more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period.
Connelly, who has ballooned to nearly 20 stone, is set to leave prison but has been refused police protection despite her fears that vigilantes may target her. She has been told to go on a crash diet and dye her hair instead.
A prison source told The Star: “Tracey was fuming when she heard the news. It is very rare to give prisoners a new identity. The bar is extremely high and she did not cross that threshold. Tracey did not qualify in 2013 and was told nothing had changed.
“The prison officers managing her release have told her the best thing she could do to avoid attention would be to change her appearance by drastically losing weight and dyeing her hair. But she’s still a pretty big woman so a huge weight loss is not likely over the coming weeks.”
Connelly is being readied for freedom from HMP Low Newton, County Durham, after the Parole Board ruled she was not a danger to the public, despite attempts by Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to block her release. She is expected to be sent to a bail hostel that houses high-risk female offenders.
Connelly was originally jailed in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her toddler son Peter. Her partner at the time Steven Barker, and his brother Jason Owen were also convicted of the charge.
After it was announced that she was set to be released, Mr Raab called for a "fundamental overhaul" of the Parole Board. He described the actions of Connelly as "pure evil".
Mr Raab said: "The decision to release her demonstrates why the parole board needs a fundamental overhaul, including a ministerial check for the most serious offenders, so that it serves and protects the public."
