Baby P’s stepfather loses fifth attempt at parole

The stepfather of Baby P has lost his latest parole bid to be freed from prison.

Steven Barker was jailed for 12 years in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of 17-month-old Peter Connelly in Tottenham, north London, in 2007. When Peter died he had a broken back and ribs, and his fingernails had been torn out.

Barker was also handed a life sentence and ordered to serve a minimum term of 10 years after being convicted of the rape of a two-year-old at a separate trial.

The Parole Board said Barker, 48, was not safe to be released or transferred to a lower-category prison.

He has continued to deny the rape he was convicted of, and of causing any harm to Peter.

Barker has not taken part in any courses that might reduce his risk of violent and sexual reoffending, the Parole Board said, adding that he was “ambivalent” about treatment.

“Given that key areas of risk remain to be addressed, the panel considered that he was appropriately located in a closed prison,” the board said.

It comes almost a month after Tracey Connelly – Peter’s mother and Barker’s girlfriend at the time of his death – was recalled to prison two years after being freed, having breached her licence conditions for a second time.

She was also convicted for her role in her son’s death alongside Barker’s brother Jason Owen.

This was Barker’s fifth review since the end of his minimum term, meaning he has already spent an extra seven years behind bars.

The panel reviewing his case found that at the time of his crimes, Barker was taking drugs, “struggling with his relationships” and was “preoccupied with sex, believing that he could have sex as and when he wanted to”.

Barker will be able to seek parole again in about two years’ time.