A sadistic Christmas Day killer who stabbed a woman 60 times during sex is set to face a public parole hearing. 

Stephen Ling was jailed for life in December 1998 after admitting murdering Joanne Tulip, 29, in Stamfordham, Northumberland, on Christmas Day a year earlier. 

The farm worker has had four previous parole hearings over the years - with the last two in 2020 and 2022 seeing the parole board recommend Ling be released to open prison. 

However, these recommendations were blocked by then-Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland and Dominic Raab.

At the time, a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesman confirmed that Mr Raab had rejected Ling’s move “in the interest of public protection”.

Ling - who carved crosses and swastikas on Joanne before and after death, before attempting to set fire to her body - is now set to face a fifth parole hearing. 

This will take place on July 16 and 17 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

(L-R) Doreen Soulsby, her mother Georgina Miller and her daughter Joanne Tulip(L-R) Doreen Soulsby, her mother Georgina Miller and her daughter Joanne Tulip (Image: Doreen Soulsby)

Ms Tulip’s mother, Doreen Soulsby, recently appealed to the new Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood to keep Ling behind bars.

Doreen has tirelessly campaigned for reform to the criminal justice system since her daughter's death nearly 27 years ago, which she described as an "extremely violent, heinous, masochistic and depraved sexual attack".

Stephen Ling murdered Joanne in 1997Stephen Ling murdered Joanne in 1997 (Image: Newsquest)

Ling admitted Joanne's rape - but never stood trial for it. A charge of rape was left on file by the trial judge due to the murder being the greater charge. 

If Ling is ever released from prison, he won't be on the sex offender's register.

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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.

During sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court, Mr Justice Potts told Ling: “You inflicted appalling injuries on (Ms Tulip) while you were having sexual relations with her. I’m also satisfied that there was in your motivation an aspiration of sadism.”

He added: “You will never be released so long as it is thought you constitute a danger to women.”