Baby P's mum is set to be released after the judge gave the green light today.
Tracey Connelly shocked the world with her horrific crimes against her 17-month-old son. She was jailed at the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of little Peter at their home in Tottenham, north London, on August 3, 2007.
Today the Parole Board rejected a government challenge against its ruling today as Justice Secretary Dominic Raab condemned the decision. He said it was proof the Parole Board needed a "fundamental overhaul".
Known publicly as Baby P, Peter had suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of Connelly's partner Steven Barker and his paedophile brother Jason Owen over an eight-month period. This was despite the youngster being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professional during the same period.
Connelly, who served time in prison at HMP Low Newton in Durham City, admitted the offence and was handed a sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) with a minimum term of five years. She was released in 2013 but was locked up again two years later after breaking the terms of her parole by selling indecent photographs of herself online, The Mirror reports.
In March, the Parole Board decided she was suitable for release, having rejected three previous bids. But last month Mr Raab asked the board, which is independent of government, to re-examine the decision under the so-called reconsideration mechanism.
This was her fourth review by the Parole Board since she was jailed. The decision was meant to be made last year but had been delayed pending more reports and information.
Mr Raab tweeted: ''Tracey Connelly's cruelty towards her son, baby Peter, was pure evil. 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.''
The Parole Board considered her case for a third time in 2019 following previous reviews in 2015 and 2017, and refused to either release her or move her to an open prison. In 2020 she lost an appeal against the Parole Board's decision not to release her.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said today: "In summary, the judge has concluded that the panel did take into consideration all evidence mentioned by the application and made rational conclusions.
"The reconsideration decision clarifies that the weight is given to the evidence given by the Secretary of States witnesses, who supported release, and the proposed external controls, was proportionate and the reasons were clearly outlined in the decision letter.
"The final ground on the rationality of the outcome was also rejected on the grounds of not reaching the threshold, as defined by law, for becoming unreasonable.”
In March 2021, Baby P's stepdad has had his parole bid refused, and was told he must remain in a high-security prison for refusing to confront his crimes.
Steven Barker, 44, was jailed for “causing or allowing the death of a child” in 2007.
The decision was made after the panel heard evidence from psychiatrists and prison officials, who said unrepentant Barker had failed to address his sickening urges, it is reported.
Barker's risk factors included “the impact on him of past life experiences, his capacity to become sexually aroused towards very young children, not being able to control extreme emotions and his difficulties in relationships,” the panel was told, according to the Sun.
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