Baby P's mother 'could be deceiving' parole panel

Tracey Connelly, jailed in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her toddler son Peter, has been freed on licence on two previous occasions

It is possible that the mother of Baby P - whose toddler son died after months of abuse - has been "deceiving" a parole board panel regarding her efforts to change, a psychologist has told the hearing.

Tracey Connelly was sentenced in 2009 to a minimum term of five years after admitting causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter - known as Baby P - at their home in Tottenham, north London in 2007.

Her then boyfriend, Steven Barker, and his brother, Jason Owen, were convicted of the same crime.

Her latest review for release is her seventh bid for freedom, and the second since she her recall to prison last year having breached licence conditions by concealing a new relationship.

Peter Connelly's death "caused lifelong harm to those who loved him", the parole hearing has been told

Baby P 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, admitted in evidence that she had been a "bad mother" who "knew deep down" that Barker was abusing her son, and that she believed she would pose a risk to children in her care.

Connelly also accepted that she lied to professionals supervising her about the relationship she started last year but insisted that she had developed trust with officials since being recalled to prison.

A psychologist told the hearing that it was possible that Connelly had been lying.

Panel member Fiona Ainsworth asked: "Could she be deceiving us now?"

"The answer to that is yes she could," the psychologist said.

The psychologist added that it was also possible that the work Connelly has done and the treatment she had received to tackle difficulties in being honest "have brought authentic change".

The psychologist also noted that they would not expect Connelly to be violent towards children, but said the risk increased if she became involved in an unhealthy relationship or if her mental health worsened.

The panel heard that Connelly meets the test for release from prison.

Steven Barker was jailed in 2009 after being convicted of causing or allowing Baby P's death

Connelly's community offender managers (COMs) were asked why the prisoner, who judicial panel member Peter Jones said had deceived professionals three times, could now meet the test for release.

One COM said: "It is that robustness of our approach to management. We do not take everything at face value, we continue to maintain that professional approach.

"We are acutely aware of her ability to mislead professionals but we have to also support her to be able to trust in professionals so that she can manage that."

They added that she did not meet the criteria for a polygraph test.

'Closely mirrored'

Connelly 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.

She was released on licence in 2013 but was recalled to prison two years later after failing to disclose an online relationship - a situation the parole panel said was "closely mirrored" in her second recall to jail last year following a further release in 2022.

Panel members for Connelly's review will assess her risk in whether to release her from prison or recommend she is transferred to open prison conditions.

Connelly declined to address the panel personally at the end of the public evidence.

There will be further evidence heard in private before the hearing ends, with a decision to come at a later date.