Baby P’s murderous mother has had to lose weight after being denied a new identity as she prepares for freedom. Tracey Connelly pleaded guilty to causing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter, who suffered more than 50 injuries over a period of eight months.
Connelly, who has climbed to nearly 20 bricks, is due out of prison but has been denied police protection despite fears vigilantes may target her. She was told to go on a crash diet and dye her hair instead.
A prison source told The Star: “Tracey was furious when she heard the news. It is very rare to give prisoners a new identity. The bar is set extremely high and she has not crossed that threshold. Tracey did not qualify in 2013 and was told nothing had changed.
“The prison officials responsible for her release have told her the best thing she could do to avoid attention is to change her appearance by drastically losing weight and dying her hair. But she’s still quite a large woman, so major weight loss isn’t likely in the coming weeks.”
Connelly is being prepared for freedom by HMP Low Newton, County Durham, after the parole board ruled she posed no danger to the public, despite attempts by Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to block her release. She is expected to be taken to a bail home that houses high-risk female offenders.
Connelly was originally jailed in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her young son Peter. Her then-partner Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen were also convicted of the charges.
After news broke that she was to be released, Mr Raab called for a “major overhaul” of the parole board. He described Connelly’s actions as “purely evil”.
Mr Raab said: “The decision to release her shows why the Parole Board needs a major overhaul, including a ministerial review of the most serious offenders, so that it serves and protects the public.”
