I was a bad mum.. I failed in my duty to protect my kids

Connelly tells parole board of death of Baby P and love of sadist

- BY DAN WARBURTON

BABY P's evil mother has admitted she was blinded by love and that her selfishness led to her 17-month-old's horrific death.

Tracey Connelly, 44, speaking for the first time about little Peter's 2007 death, had refused to accept sadistic lover Steven Barker was abusing the toddler.

She told a parole hearing: “I was a bad mother. I failed to protect them.

“I put my needs first. I took all my anger out at the world on my children. I didn't give them what they needed and they deserved better than me.

“I could have done more. I was in my own bubble where I wanted my Prince Charming and, unfortunately, my children paid for that. I was selfish. I wanted my happy ever after.”