Baby P's mother Tracey Connelly tells parole hearing she can be manipulative

Mixed · 2Tracey Connelly, the mother of Baby P, told a public Parole Board hearing on Tuesday 13 October 2026 that she can be manipulative and opportunistic, as her bid for release resumed after almost a year's pause. 1 2 Mixed · 2Asked whether she accepted descriptions of herself as manipulative and opportunistic, she said: "The terminology is not nice. As much as I would like to say no, I have lied, I have deceived, so I have to accept that is fair." 1 2 Centre · 1She denied being skilful at deceit, arguing that the risk management plan had worked because officials found out and recalled her, and said she makes mistakes and gets into a "loop" she struggles to leave. 1

Centre · 1Earlier the panel heard private statements read on behalf of members of Peter's family, who are "statutory victims", about the impact of his death and their concerns about her possible release; Connelly said she "hated every minute of it" because their pain "is on me", and that she can never apologise for it. The family asked for protective conditions if release is granted. 1 Mixed · 2Connelly was jailed at the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter at their Tottenham, north London, home on 3 August 2007; she received a sentence of imprisonment for public protection with a minimum term of five years. Her then-boyfriend Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen were convicted of the same offence. 1 2 Mixed · 2Peter 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, and a series of reviews identified missed opportunities to save his life. 1 2

Mixed · 2Public hearings were held last October but adjourned because the panel wanted a further psychological assessment and a forensic examination of the mobile phone she used in the community before her recall in August 2024 for breaching licence conditions. Metro reported the panel heard that the recall followed her starting a relationship with a man she met online without telling supervising officials. 1 2 Centre · 1Parole hearings are usually private, but a judge approved a public hearing, finding "there can be no doubt that there is a substantial public interest" in the case. 1 Mixed · 2Her earlier history includes release on licence in 2013, recall in 2015, rejected release bids in 2015, 2017 and 2019, and release in July 2022 after the Parole Board found her at "low risk of committing a further offence", despite concerns about her ability to manipulate and deceive. Then-justice secretary Dominic Raab appealed that decision, but a judge rejected his bid. 1 2

Left · 1The hearing is continuing and no decision has been reported. 2