Baby P’s mother has asked guards for additional security in jail in advance of her release next month after suspicions she will be killed in a prison knife attack plan by fellow prisoners.
Tracey Connelly, 40, was imprisoned in 2008 for the death of her son Peter Connelly, the 17-month-old better known as Baby P. Peter was found lifeless in his home in north London in August 2007 after having sustained 50 injuries over the period of eight months.
Connelly had been imprisoned for an indefinite period with a minimum term of five years in 2009 for causing or allowing her son’s passing away. Also found guilty at the hands of his death were Connelly’s lover, Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen.
Baby P suffered more than 50 injuries including a broken spine and eight wrecked ribs regardless of being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers in Haringey Council, police and health experts over the final eight months of his life.
But now more than seven years after Connelly was recalled to prison, the board found she does not pose a risk to the public and could therefore be free within weeks.
Ahead of her release, it has been testified that Connelly has been complaining that her life is at danger at HMP Low Newton, Durham and is said to be horrified that other inmates are looking to attack before she gets out.
A source said that Tracey Connelly is suspicious that she will be confronted in the wake of the Parole Board’s judgment. The source said that the publicity around her bail has triggered renewed anger towards her in the prison.
The Parole Board’s endorsement of the release of Connelly was met with public anger.
The hearing report which took place on March 15 and 16 via video call, read: ‘At the time of her offending, risk factors had included Ms Connelly not managing certain aspects of her personality, entering into relationships quickly, prioritising those relationships above anything else, thinking about sex a lot and using sex to help her feel better about herself.
‘The panel also considered risk factors to include Ms Connelly’s inability to control extreme emotions, her way of life, her decision making, her low self-esteem, manipulative behaviour, dishonesty, a lack of victim empathy and her difficulties in coping with feelings of anger.
The report concluded: ‘after considering the circumstances of her offending and time on licence, progress made in custody, evidence presented at the hearing and the recommendations of witnesses, the panel was satisfied Ms Connelly was suitable for release.’
An autopsy of Baby P also discovered that he had swallowed a tooth after being stamped with other injuries including injured fingertips and lost fingernails.
Connelly was released in 2013 on a lifetime licence, which meant she could be recalled at any point for a breach. She was put back in jail in 2015 after she broke its terms by cashing in on her offenses and vending nude photographs of herself online.
She was subject to a precise span of term in jail but had to wait until the Parole Board which studies cases roughly every two years – deemed her suitable for release.
She had proposals for freedom turned down in 2015, 2017, and 2019, when the board declined to release or move her to an open prison. In 2020, she lost another plea.
After the newscast of Connelly’s forthcoming release, Dominic Raab promised to seek to block the release.
Mr Raab was backed by Shadow Justice Secretary Steve Reed, who labelled the news as worrying and said he fully supports efforts to seek a review.
Since being evoked to prison, Connelly has taken part in a very intensive treatment course from the Ministry of Justice and the NHS over three years. A report said that she is now able to work openly and honestly with professionals.
The Parole Board said it was content that Connelly is appropriate for release after hearing she is now considered to be at ‘low risk of committing a further offence’ and that her probation officers and prison officials support the proposal.
As per the information, Mr Raab was represented all over the review and his representative established that this recommendation was acknowledged. Connelly will be subject to limitations on her activities, actions and who she contacts and faces 20 extra licence conditions. They comprise living at a definite address, being overseen by probation, wearing an electronic tag, obeying to a curfew and having to reveal her contacts.
Her use of the internet and a phone will be scrutinized and she has been told that she cannot go to certain places to evade contact with victims and to safeguard children.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: ‘We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Tracey Connelly following an oral hearing. It is further said that Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. It added that Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care and Protecting the public is our number one priority.’
The case was so sensitive that parole chiefs needed more facts on her mental assessments before a decision was reached. She would have confronted another two years behind bars if the board overruled her proposal.
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