The Parole Board has refused to overturn its direction that sadistic killer Steven Ling, who raped and stabbed Joanne Tulip in a sadistic murder 1997, should be released.

The board was asked by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to reconsider its ruling that Ling should be released after serving 27 years of his life sentence for the murder of Miss Tulip, 29, in Stamfordham, Northumberland.

On Tuesday, a Parole Board 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.”(Image: PA)

A spokesman added: “Decisions of the Parole Board are solely focused on what risk a prisoner 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.”

Ling’s vicious murder on Christmas Day 1997 was inspired by sadism, the sentencing judge said back in 1998.

After the recommendation to release Ling was made in September, following his fifth parole hearing, Ms Tulip’s mother, Doreen Soulsby, described the decision as “outrageous”.

Ms Mahmood asked the Parole Board to reconsider its recommendation on the basis that it was legally irrational.

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Ling was inspired to murder Ms Tulip on Christmas Day 1997 by sadism, Newcastle Crown Court heard at the time.

He stabbed her 60 times.

A charge of rape was left on file during the original court case, so he is not a convicted sex offender, but in its ruling the Parole Board said: “Mr Ling has always accepted that he raped the victim.”

Responding the Parole Board’s decision to uphold its direction to release Steven Ling, Joanne Tulip’s mother Doreen Soulsby said: “I’m extremely disappointed that the Justice Secretary’s reconsideration request to the Parole Board has been unsuccessful.

“Therefore, 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.”

Ms Soulsby said: “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.”

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?”