Baby P’s mother continues parole bid

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Tracey 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, in August 2007.

Public parole hearings took place last October, but the case was adjourned after the panel decided there needed to be a further psychological assessment.

Connelly told her hearing on Tuesday she "hated every minute" of hearing about the "lifelong" pain and suffering of her victims. She also admitted she could be manipulative and opportunistic.

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, now in her 40s, left prison in July 2022 after the parole board ruled she was suitable for release.

This was despite the panel highlighting concerns over Connelly's ability to manipulate and deceive, and hearing evidence of how she had become embroiled in prison romances.

She was recalled to prison in August 2024 for breaching parole conditions.

Asked whether she would accept descriptions of her as manipulative and opportunistic as she gave evidence, Connelly said: "As much as I would like to say no, I have lied, I have deceived, so I have to accept that is fair."

She denied being skilful at deceit, saying: "I don't necessarily think I'm that skilful because their risk management plan has worked – they found out I was doing wrong and they called me back for it. I'm back in prison.

"I just think I make mistakes and I kind of get myself into this loop and I suddenly struggle to get out of it."

Earlier, the panel heard private statements read on behalf of members of Peter's family – who are "statutory victims" – about the ongoing impact of his death and their concerns about Connelly's potential release.

Asked how it felt hearing those statements, Connelly told the parole hearing: "I hated every minute of it because I know that their pain and their suffering is on me.

"I made decisions and choices that led to every moment of their pain and suffering and I can never apologise for that.

"I understand that my impact on them has been lifelong."

Connelly had admitted the offence of causing or allowing the death of her son and was handed a sentence of imprisonment for public protection with a minimum term of five years.

Connelly's then-boyfriend, Steven Barker, and his brother, Jason Owen, were convicted of the same crime as the boy's mother.

She had previously been released on licence in 2013 but was recalled to prison in 2015 for breaching her parole conditions.

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