Tracey Connelly, the mother of Baby P, was returned to prison last year after entering an online relationship without informing the officials overseeing her, according to a parole hearing.

Connelly was initially sentenced at the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or permitting the death of her 17-month-old son, Peter—affectionately known as Baby P—at their residence in Tottenham, north London, on August 3, 2007.

She is now seeking to be released once again after being recalled for a second time in August 2024 due to violations of her parole conditions.

During Wednesday’s hearing, it was noted that her recent situation “closely mirrored” her first recall and her behavior while incarcerated, where she had also engaged in intimate relationships.

Baby P endured over 50 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken back, despite being listed as at risk and having received 60 visits from social workers, law enforcement, and healthcare professionals within an eight-month timeframe.

The panel was informed by her prison offender manager (POM) that Connelly had removed evidence from her phone to keep her relationship hidden from authorities, which resulted in her second recall.

Panel chairwoman Sally Allbeury remarked that a previous parole review identified a “significant risk” concerning Connelly’s tendency to prioritize her partner’s needs over those of children when forming intimate relationships.

“Subsequent panels have echoed similar concerns,” she noted.

Previously, Connelly had neglected to inform social services about other individuals residing with her after her partner and his brother moved in, with a 2013 panel noting her determination to maintain her romantic relationships at any cost.

Providing testimony during Wednesday’s session, Connelly’s POM stated that she concealed her online relationship out of “fear of judgment.”

Ms. Allbeury emphasized that Connelly was “entitled” to engage in a relationship of her choosing, provided she was transparent about it.

The POM is advocating for Connelly’s release, accompanied by a management plan.

In 2009, Connelly pleaded guilty to the charge of causing or allowing her son’s death and received a sentence of imprisonment for public protection, with a minimum of five years.

Her former partner, Steven Barker, and his brother Jason Owen, were also convicted of the same offence.

Earlier in the hearing, the chairwoman mentioned that the panel had received “deeply moving” victim impact statements from the child’s family members.

“There is no doubt that Peter’s death has left lasting damage to those who cared for him,” Ms. Allbeury remarked.

The panel has the option of either granting Connelly’s release or recommending her transfer to an open prison.

Connelly was initially released on licence in 2013 but was recalled in 2015 for breaching her parole. She regained freedom for a second time in July 2022, only to be recalled again two years later.

Her earlier parole requests in 2015, 2017, and 2019 were declined.