Officials to scrutinise murderer release decision

The Lord Chancellor has asked officials to scrutinise a Parole Board's decision to release a convicted murderer who stabbed a woman 60 times.

Steven Ling was jailed for life in 1998 for murdering Joanne Tulip, 29, in Stamfordham, Northumberland, on Christmas Day in 1997.

Ling, who was granted release by the parole board, admitted rape but the charge was left to lie on file meaning he has not been classed as a sex offender.

Ms Tulip's mother, Doreen Soulsby, said Ling was a "real danger to women" and she was "very angry" at the decision to release him.

The Ministry of Justice said the Lord Chancellor's "first priority was keeping the public safe".

A spokesman said: "She has asked officials to scrutinise whether the decision should be returned to the Parole Board to reconsider.

The results are due on 30 September.

Ling was initially ordered to serve at least 20 years behind bars, but in 2009 a High Court judge cut the minimum term to 18 years.

The Parole Board's report said Ling had always accepted that he raped Ms Tulip but as he was not formally convicted of the crime, he was not classed as a convicted sex offender.

Mrs Soulsby said she was in the process of requesting reconsideration of the Parole Board's decision.

"Because the murder was a more serious offence, the judge decided that the rape shouldn't go to trial because it would be an abuse of court process," Mrs Soulsby told BBC Woman's Hour.

She added: "It was said that it would upset the family, but we weren't even asked.

"The bottom line is that he is not even a convicted sex offender [for] this horrendous offence that he committed.

"So now he could be released, living next door to you and you wouldn't know he was a sex offender."

"I feel very angry and frustrated about the whole thing because it's very hard to try to get our points over to the Parole Board," she said, adding: "I think he's a real danger to women."

A public parole hearing was held in July, although Ling was allowed to give his evidence in private.

Two psychologists gave evidence recommending Ling's release from prison on a risk management plan.

In its decision summary, the Parole Board said it had considered the circumstances of Ling's offending, the progress made while in custody, and the risk management plan before concluding "imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public".

The panel said his release would be subject to a set of standard licence conditions imposed on all offenders released under supervision and additional licence conditions imposed by the Parole Board.

These included being subject to GPS tracking for 12 months, restrictions on the use of electronic technology and exclusion zones to avoid contact with the victim's family.

The Lord Chancellor, a role currently held by Shabana Mahmood, is the head of the Ministry of Justice.

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