'I'm terrified now parole board are going to allow my daughter's killer to go free'

A mum whose daughter was brutally raped and in 1997 says she has been left “terrified” by the refusing to overturn its ruling that her killer should be released.

Joanne Tulip, 29, was stabbed 60 times on Day by farm worker Stephen Ling, now 48. A then 23-year-old Ling mutilated Joanne's body and carved crosses and swastikas onto it both before and after her death. He was in 1998 and is now nearing the end of his 27-year-long term.

Justice Secretary had asked the Parole Board to reconsider its recommendation that farm worker Steven Ling should be released, but on Tuesday, a spokesman said: “A judge at the Parole Board considered the application for reconsideration and has decided, based on the evidence, that it will be refused”, leaving Joanne's mum "terrified."

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The spokesman added: “Decisions of the Parole Board are solely focused on what risk a could represent to the public and whether that risk is manageable in the community. When assessing the reconsideration application, the judge recognised the very significant gravity of the case and the profound ongoing impact on the victim’s family.”

Joanne’s mum Doreen Soulsby, said she was “extremely disappointed” that the reconsideration request had been unsuccessful and feared “any woman that Ling becomes involved with will not be safe." Ms Soulsby said: “A dangerous man who committed the most horrific and sadistic crimes will now be released straight out into the community and will be roaming our streets. I am now very worried and terrified about the release of my daughter’s murderer.

“As a mother, the pain of losing my daughter will never fade. The impact of Joanne’s brutal murder and rape will be felt forever. Knowing Joanne’s murderer is being released feels like a betrayal caused by our justice system. I strongly fear that any woman that Ling becomes involved with will not be safe.”

She added: “Given today’s outcome, the public’s confidence in our justice system will be broken and shattered forever with no way of repairing it. How can anyone have faith in our justice system when victims get these outcomes?”

Ms Soulsby said the decision to release Ling was “outrageous”, adding: "She said: “This is a man who committed the most horrific sadistic crimes against my daughter, including stabbing her 60 times and raping her, after having consumed a significant amount of alcohol.” She also said it was apparent during the Parole Board hearing in July that Ling, 49, still fantasised about graphic sex, and said: “There is nothing that can be done to stop this man constantly thinking he is entitled to sex.”

Ms Mahmood asked the Parole Board to reconsider on the basis it was legally irrational. Ling was motivated by sadism to carry out the murder of Joanne on Christmas Day, Newcastle Crown Court heard at the time. During the original case, a charge of rape was left on file, so he is not a convicted sex offender. In its ruling however, the Parole Board said: “Mr Ling has always accepted that he raped the victim.”

According to the Parole Board on Tuesday, the judge who considered the Secretary of State’s application said: “Having had the advantage of hearing and assessing all of the evidence, which of course included the evidence of (Steven Ling), a very experienced panel provided a fair and comprehensive decision which clearly considered all of the evidence with great care and considerable sensitivity.

“The panel in my judgment satisfied the public law duty to provide evidence-based reasons that fully and sufficiently justified and explained the various conclusions that it reached. In my judgment it cannot be sensibly argued that this was a decision that no reasonable panel could have come to.” The board spokesman added: “Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”

When Ling was sentenced to life in prison, he was told by Mr Justice Potts: “You will never be released so long as it is thought you constitute a danger to women.” He was handed a minimum term of 20 years, which was reduced to 18 years by the High Court. The Parole Board judgment said Ling has since admitted a number of acts of indecent exposure prior to him murdering Ms Tulip, for which he was not caught. The panel said he had completed an official programme to address his violent and sexual offending, and his conduct in prison “has largely been exemplary”.

Two psychologists agreed Ling should be freed from prison in a hearing in July this year, and mentioned his ongoing “shame” about his “monstrous” past. His pending release was subject to a number of conditions, including telling authorities about any relationships he may develop, being monitored with a curfew, and staying out of an exclusion zone to avoid contact with his victim’s family.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Joanne Tulip at this difficult time. We are disappointed with this outcome but respect the independent Parole Board's decision. Ling will be on licence for the rest of his life, with strict conditions and probation supervision after he is released, and he faces an immediate return to prison if he breaks the rules."