CHILD killer Maxine Robinson, who smothered three of her children as they slept in their beds, could walk free in about four years, it was revealed yesterday.

Robinson, 37, was more than eight years into a life sentence for murdering 19-month-old Christine and Anthony, five months, when she confessed to killing her first-born, Victoria.

Until then, she had been due to be eligible for parole in December next year and Mr Justice Clarke, sitting at Newcastle Crown Court, yesterday recommended she should serve a further three years.

Nine-month-old Victoria was found dead in her cot in 1989. At the time it was thought to be a cot death tragedy. Anthony and Christine were smothered as they slept in their beds at the family home in Ouston, County Durham, in 1993.

At her trial in 1995, Robinson protested her innocence over the deaths of Anthony and Christine.

But during counselling last year, she finally admitted her guilt, and went on to confess to suffocating Victoria with a deflated balloon as she slept in her cot.

Robinson was told that she will be eligible for parole as early as 2008.

Mr Justice Clarke said: "I do not believe it is in the public interest to increase your sentence greatly.

"Despite the horror of what you did, I am satisfied you are a woman who needs help for what you did, both while you are in prison and when and if you are out on licence."

Franz Muller, QC, prosecuting, earlier told the court: "Maxine Robinson felt the child would be better off 'out of it'. She felt she was not the child's mother."

Mr Muller said Robinson was too ashamed to admit responsibility to Victoria's father and her first husband, Leslie Cope, and her mother, Ann Leggett.

To her counsellor in prison, Robinson said: "It was like Vicki was on loan, like she actually belonged to my mam."

The court heard she was made to feel inadequate by her domineering mother.

Aidan Marron, QC, mitigating, told the court that Robinson was considered to be of good character before her trial at Sheffield Crown Court in 1995, and that her time in prison had been useful rehabilitation for her.

He said she had now been sterilised.

Robinson would have been entitled to use the defence of diminished responsibility for Victoria's death, but admitted murder instead.

Last night, her former brother-in-law, Darren, 33, of Chester-le-Street, said: "Les doted on his little girl. He was absolutely broken-hearted."

Mr Cope and Robinson met while they lived on the same estate in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. The death of Vicki proved to be the catalyst for the end of the marriage.

Robinson later went on to meet and marry Peter Robinson, 40, who lives in Shotton Colliery, County Durham.

Neighbours of Mr Robinson said: "The murders really cut him up."

Mr Cope, who now lives at a workers' co-operative in Plawsworth, Chester-le-Street, declined to comment.