Baby P’s (Peter Connelly) mother, Child Killer Tracey Connelly, has been recalled to prison after breaching licence conditions, it has been reported. Tracey Connelly was convicted of causing or allowing the death of her son and jailed in 2009 after her son was discovered badly injured at her home in north London. She was released from prison in July 2022 and the Police gave her a new identity and pocket money.
More than 20 licence conditions were imposed as a condition of Tracey Connelly’s release, which included living at a specified address, wearing an electronic tag, adhering to a curfew and having to disclose her relationships. Tracey Connelly has been recalled to prison over an unspecified breach of her licence
Tracey Connelly’s son, who became known as Baby P and was later identified by his full name Peter Connelly, suffered months of torture before he died aged 17 months in 2007. Tracey Connelly had allowed her son to be tortured to death and an inquiry found he suffered more than 50 injuries – including a broken back, fractured leg, damage to his head and blackened fingers and toes from cigarette burns.
Tracey Connelly’s boyfriend Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen were convicted of the same offence
Barker, 47, was ordered to serve 12 years over his role in Peter’s death. He was also given a concurrent life sentence, with a minimum 10 years, for raping a two-year-old girl. Owen was sentenced to six years.
Baby P was on the at-risk register and received 60 visits from social workers, north London police officers and health professionals over eight months.
After being jailed in 2009, Tracey Connelly was first released on licence in 2013 but was recalled to prison just two years later for breaching her parole conditions. Tracey Connelly had allegedly been trying to sell pornographic pictures of herself to male fans. She made three unsuccessful bids for parole before being released again in 2022.
Research shows that a mother torturing her child is an extreme and tragic situation often rooted in deep psychological issues, past trauma, or severe mental health disorders. Such behavior may stem from unresolved anger, frustration, or feelings of powerlessness, which are misdirected towards the child. In some cases, the mother might have experienced abuse or neglect in her own upbringing, leading to distorted perceptions of parenting and normalcy. Mental illnesses, such as severe depression, psychosis, or personality disorders, can also contribute to abusive behavior, impairing her ability to empathize with her child.
Additionally, external stressors like poverty, substance abuse, or an abusive partner can exacerbate these issues, creating a volatile environment where the child becomes a victim of misplaced rage or control. Addressing these situations requires comprehensive mental health support and intervention to protect the child and treat the underlying causes of the abuse.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.