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Baby P mother bids for have jail sentence cut
Peter Dominiczak4 Aug 2009
The mother of Baby P is to appeal against her prison sentence, it emerged today.
The 27-year-old launched her legal aid assited bid to walk free from jail on the second anniversary of Baby Peter's death on Monday.
Her appeal comes despite widespread public anger that her five-year minimum tariff was already too lenient.
Her son Baby Peter died in August 2007, aged 17 months, after suffering sustained abuse and neglect at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger. He was found in his bloodied cot with more than 50 injuries.
A national outcry erupted after it emerged that Peter had been on Haringey's at risk register and had been seen 60 times by professionals supposed to protect children from harm.
His mother, who cannot be named for legal reason, admitted causing or allowing the baby's death and was given an indeterminate sentence with a five-year minimum tariff.
According to letters she has sent since entering Holloway prison, she has blamed her ex-boyfriend for what happened and said she is planning “one long party” when she is released.
In the letters written from her jail cell she said she is planning holidays in Egypt, Greece and Italy when she is freed.
If given permission by a judge to go ahead with her appeal, it is thought she will receive publicly-funded legal aid.
The woman cannot be considered for release until 2012 and could remain in jail indefinitely if the Parole Board rules she is still a threat.
In a letter, the woman wrote: “I did pleaded [sic] guilty as after a long time thinking about everything I accept I failed as a mother for which I also accepted I would stay in prison for a number of years.”
In another letter, she blamed her ex-boyfriend, a 33-year-old handyman, for what had happened to Baby Peter.
She wrote: “I get angry when I think about my ex so I try my best not to think of him.
“When I first came to Holloway I didn't believe he could have done this... But as the weeks and months passed I slowly started to wake up to the truth, so now I hope he rots in hell.”
Her boyfriend and the couple's lodger, Jason Owen, have also asked to appeal against their sentences.
Owen, 37, from Bromley, was given an indeterminate sentence and told he would serve a minimum of three years.
The boyfriend, who cannot be named, has also been convicted of the rape of a two-year-old girl and has asked for permission to appeal against that conviction and sentence.
He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of ten years for the rape, and given a 12-year concurrent sentence for his role in Baby Peter's death.
It is claimed the appeals could potentially cost the taxpayer more than £500,000.
Campaigner Michele Elliott, from children's charity Kidscape, said: “I can't believe they think they have any right to appeal when that child died in such appalling circumstances in their care.”
Reader views (6)
Little apples will grow and what goes around, comes around!!!!
- Kas, Dublin ireland, 12/08/2009 00:26
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Pakistan has the right idea, they do exactly what you did to your victim to you. that's seems fair to me, alot fairer than 5 years at her Majesty's Pleasure
- Nick, Essex, 11/08/2009 13:19
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"After a long time thinking about everything I accept I failed as a mother" - her son was beaten to a pulp and her daughter was repeatedly raped by her boyfriend, and she had to spend a long time thinking before she accepted she might have failed them?! 2 year anniversary of his death and all she can talk of is herself and parties and holidays.
- Roz, France, 04/08/2009 16:37
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What a selfish woman. Has she no shame or remorse for what she allowed to be done to her son. Why should we waste all this money on this stupid selfish woman. She should rot in jail. If she gets out she should be subjected what she allowed her son to be subjected to in his short life.
- Jan, London, 04/08/2009 16:25
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" the appeals could potentially cost the taxpayer more than GDP500,000"
How much compensation does a double amputee returning from Afghanistan get from the taxpayer?
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 04/08/2009 14:22
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A good case for sterilisation if there were any.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 04/08/2009 09:11
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