Parole Board's 'high risk' fears for mother of Baby P as she launches freedom bid

The notorious mum of Baby P would pose a high risk if she were freed and given access to children, experts fear.

Tracey Connelly’s toddler son died aged 17 months in 2007 after suffering more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period. Now 43, she is launching a fresh bid for freedom just months after being thrown back in jailfor breaching licence conditions. Connelly herself does not even support a full unconditional release back into the public, the Parole Board will be told.

In a judgement ordering that a two-day parole hearing is heard in public, the Parole Board said: “In the current psychological risk assessment, it is assessed that her risk of violence remains low. But risk would be high and potentially imminent if she were to have access to children while other risk factors are present. It comes after teachers found dead in murder-suicide leaving two kids, 3 and 5, without a mum.

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Monitored

"Ms Connelly, in interview, has stated that she will not be seeking unconditional release due to the support she would lose.”

Connelly was jailed at the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of Peter. She was released on licence in 2013 before being recalled for breaching parole conditions by selling nude snaps online in 2015.

Connelly – who had parole bids in 2015, 2017 and 2019 rejected – was then freed on licence in July 2022.

She was hauled back to jail in September for flouting the conditions of her release while living at a bail hostel. It was not clear how she breached her licence but she was placed on curfew and had to disclose relationships.

Connelly’s internet and phone use was also monitored and she was barred from certain places. She had reinvented herself on a WeightWatchers forum as a woman named Connie.

Bullying

In documents, it is claimed she suffers PTSD and was subjected to “bullying and aggression” after her recall to prison. Her solicitor fought for the upcoming parole hearing to be held in private.

The report states: “He submits that a public hearing will only exacerbate these issues and will have a significant and detrimental effect upon Ms Connelly’s ability to give effective and accurate evidence at the hearing.”

But the Parole Board decided the hearing would be public. Peter – initially referred to in news reports as Baby P – suffered 50 injuries, including a broken back and fractured ribs, at his home in Tottenham, North London.

The trial detailed missed opportunities to save Peter, and the way his mother stood by. Connelly, stepdad Steven Barker and Barker’s brother Jason Owen were jailed over his death.