Tracey Connelly, the mother of Peter Connelly – the toddler known as Baby P who died with more than 50 injuries despite being on the at-risk register – has been recommended for release from prison by the Parole Board. Connelly was jailed indefinitely with a minimum of five years in May 2009 for causing or allowing her 17-month-old son's death.
The Parole Board confirmed that a three-member panel directed her release, stating: 'This is the second parole review for Tracey Connelly. The decision to release is a matter for the board, which is independent – arrangements and the date of the release are a matter for the secretary of state.' She first became eligible for parole in August 2012 but was not released at that time.
Peter died at his home in Tottenham, north London, on 3 August 2007, despite 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months. Connelly admitted the offence soon after being charged and served several hundred days on remand. She was given an imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence, which carries a minimum term and allows the prisoner to be considered for release by the Parole Board when that term is served.
Connelly, now 32, will remain on licence for the rest of her life and could be recalled to custody if she breaches any of its conditions. The board took into account the nature of the offence, her offending history, progress in prison, victim statements, and reports from psychologists, probation officers and prison officers.
Her boyfriend Steven Barker, then 32, was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years for raping a two-year-old girl and given a 12-year term for his 'major role' in Peter's death. His brother Jason Owen, then 36, was jailed indefinitely with a minimum three-year term but later reduced to a fixed six-year term; he was freed in August 2011 but recalled to prison in April this year.
