Tracey Connelly, the mother of Baby P, has been granted another chance at freedom 18 years after her son was tortured to death.
Connelly, 42, who was returned to jail last September for breaching licence conditions, has been promised an oral parole hearing, according to reports.
She was originally handed an indefinite sentence with a minimum term of five years in 2009 after covering up horrific injuries inflicted on her 17-month-old son, Peter, by her sadistic lover.
Peter died at home in Tottenham, north London, on 3 August 2007. Connelly pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child in 2008.
Since her initial release in 2013, Connelly has repeatedly struggled to comply with licence conditions. She was first recalled to prison in 2015 after selling naked photographs of herself online to male admirers. She was released again in July 2022.
Insiders told The Sun that Connelly may be back on the streets by the end of this year. While a date has yet to be fixed, her parole hearing is expected to take place in late summer, possibly around August or September.
Depending on the circumstances of her latest recall and her conduct in prison, the Parole Board could release her immediately following the hearing. Alternatively, a panel may be directed to review further evidence before deciding, or they may opt to keep her locked up.
Former Met Police Detective Peter Bleksley said: "Whatever happened to three strikes and you're out. How many more chances does this woman need? This is another example of the fluffy and liberal thinking that plagues most of the criminal justice system including the Parole Board, who seem hell-bent on bending over backwards to let people out rather than keep them in."
Connelly previously claimed police overreacted when recalling her to prison for a second time, insisting her licence breaches were minor. Her lawyers have also argued that she poses no further danger to the public.
Connelly’s lover Steven Barker was jailed in 2009 for a minimum of 12 years, while his brother Jason Owen received a six-year sentence for allowing Peter’s death.
When Connelly was first freed, she faced 20 strict licence conditions, including electronic tagging, monitored internet use, a curfew, and restrictions on her movements to avoid contact with victims and children.
The Parole Board previously said she was cleared for release due to her low risk of reoffending, backed by probation officers and prison officials. The board will now assess whether her latest breach justifies further detention.
A Parole Board spokesperson said: "It's been directed to an oral hearing now but no hearing date has been set yet."
