Baby P’s killer mother WILL be FREED from jail after just eleven years behind bars as Parole Board rejects Dominic Raab’s appeal

• Connelly jailed at Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her son 
• Baby P had suffered more than 50 injuries despite being on the at-risk register
• Dominic Raab raged against decision, saying Parole Board needed an ‘overhaul’

Baby P’s killer mother will be freed from prison after the Parole Board today rejected a Government challenge against its ruling.  

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab raged against the decision to release Tracey Connelly, saying it showed why the body ‘needs a fundamental overhaul – including a ministerial check for the most serious offenders’. 

Connelly, now 40, was jailed at the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter at their home in Tottenham, north London, on August 3, 2007.

Responding to the decision, Mr Raab said Connelly’s actions were ‘pure evil’ and added: ‘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.’ 

Connelly was jailed at the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter at their home in Tottenham, north London , on August 3, 2007

Known publicly as Baby P, Peter (pictured) had suffered more than 50 injuries despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police officers and health professionals over eight months

Known publicly as Baby P, Peter had suffered more than 50 injuries despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police officers and health professionals over eight months.

Connelly’s lover Steven Barker was jailed in 2009 for a minimum of 32 years for torturing the 17-month-old to death while his brother, Jason Owen, received a six year jail sentence for allowing the toddler to die. 

A series of reviews identified missed opportunities for officials to save the toddler’s life had they reacted properly to warning signs.

Connelly was handed a sentence of imprisonment for public protection with a minimum term of five years after admitting her crimes. 

Her boyfriend Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen were also convicted. 

Connelly was released on licence in 2013 but recalled to prison in 2015 for breaching her parole conditions.

In March the Parole Board decided she was suitable for release, having rejected three previous bids.

Today, the Parole Board announced the application had been rejected and the original decision upheld.

A spokesman said in a statement: ‘Following the reconsideration application from the Secretary of State, a judge has ruled that the decision made by independent Parole Board members to release was not irrational, as stated in the reconsideration application, and the original decision is upheld.’

Baby P, was tortured to death in 2007 by Connelly’s lover Steven Barker (left) and his brother Jason Owen (right) at their home in Tottenham, north London

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured) pledged in March to appeal against the board’s recommendation to free Tracey Connelly, 40, from prison

The reconsideration mechanism, introduced in July 2019, allows the Justice Secretary and the prisoner in question to challenge the Parole Board’s decision if they believe them to be ‘procedurally unfair’ or ‘irrational’ within 21 days.

Victims and members of the public can also make a request via the minister.

But the threshold is high and is the same as is required when seeking a judicial review.

The provisions also make clear that ‘being unhappy’ with the decision is not grounds for reconsideration.

It is understood in this case the intervention was made on the grounds the decision was irrational, in that it makes no sense based on the evidence of risk that was considered and that no other parole judges would come to the same conclusion.

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