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Baby P's mother Tracey Connelly wants to set up home in Kent when she's released from prison

00:00, 09 October 2013

Baby P’s mother Tracey Connelly wants to move to Kent when she’s released from prison, her own mother has claimed.

The 32-year-old, who was jailed indefinitely in May 2009, is set to be freed after a Parole Board yesterday recommended her release.

She had been ordered to serve a minimum of five years after she was convicted of causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter.

Tracey Connelly is set to be freed from prison
Tracey Connelly is set to be freed from prison

A statement from the Parole Board, which reconsidered the case after previously refusing to free her, said: “We can confirm that a three-member panel of the board has directed the release of Tracey Connelly.

“Tracey Connelly first became eligible for parole in August 2012, and at that time a Parole Board panel made no recommendation to release.

“This is the second parole review for Tracey Connelly. The decision to release is a matter for the board, which is independent.”

Baby Peter was tortured to death at his home
Baby Peter was tortured to death at his home

The date of Connelly’s release has been kept under wraps, but her mother Mary O’Connor – the heartbroken gran of tragic tot Peter – says she plans to set up home in Kent when she’s freed.

Speaking to The Sun, she said: “She should never come out.

“But even if she does I won’t be seeing her again. She’s out of my life.

“She wants to live in Kent and wants me to move there with her. But I said no.”

Baby Peter died in 2007 after months of torture at the hands of Connelly, her sadistic lover Steven Barker and paedophile lodger Jason Owen, who are brothers.

Steven Barker
Steven Barker
Jason Owen
Jason Owen

The pair have links to Kent, having been accused of attacking their grandmother at her bungalow in Whitstable in 1995.

They were arrested on suspicion of assaulting 82-year-old Hilda Barker to force their way into her will.

Mrs Barker's daughter called in police after the alleged abuse at the home in Green Leas, Chestfield, and the pair were arrested.

Mrs Barker was so shaken by her experience that she was moved to a care home, where she died in January 1996.

But the brothers never faced trial. They were remanded in custody but the case was dropped after Mrs Barker's death, which was put down to natural causes.

A Kent police spokesman said: "In 1995, Kent police were contacted by a relative of an 82-year-old lady called Hilda Barker, who lived in Whitstable.

"It was suggested that members of her family had assaulted Mrs Barker.

"The allegations were fully investigated in 1995 and, although two males were charged, the matter was later discontinued through lack of admissible evidence.”

"In 1996, an inquest into Mrs Barker's death concluded it was a result of pneumonia."


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