Child killer Maxine Robinson, who smothered all three of her children as they slept in their beds, could walk free in just four years, it was revealed today.

Robinson had her life sentence extended by just three years yesterday after confessing to the murder of her first baby, Vicki Cope, in June 1989.

The youngster, who Robinson had when she was 21, was found dead in her cot. At the time it was thought to be a tragic cot death.

Robinson, 37, has spent more than ten years in Durham Jail after being found guilty of the double murder of her second and third children, Anthony, five months and Christine 19 month.

They were smothered as they slept in their beds at the family home in Ouston, Co Durham, in June 1993.

Robinson had protested her innocence over the deaths as well as never admitting any responsibility for the death of Vicky, but during counselling in 2003 she finally admitted her guilt for the deaths of Anthony and Christine.

She went on to confess to suffocating Vicki with a deflated balloon as she slept peacefully in her cot.

Despite the confession the triple child murderer was told by a judge that she will eligible for parole as early as 2008.

Franz Muller, QC, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: " maxine Robinson felt the child would be better off "out of it.". She felt she was not the child's mother."

Mr Muller went on to say Robinson was too ashamed to admit responsibility to Vicki's father and her first husband Leslie Cope and her own mother Ann Leggett.

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

Mr Muller added: "Maxine had said she did not take the child to bed that evening with the intention of suffocating her. Maxine said "I had just had enough."

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 to prevent her from having any more children.

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."

Robinson would have been entitled to use the defence of diminished responsibility at trial - but pleaded guilty instead.

Last night her former brother-in-law Darren, 33, of Chester-le-Street, said: "Vicki's death really cut Les up. Ho doted on his little girl. He was absolutely broken-hearted."

Vicki's aunt, Diane Cope said: "What that woman did was disgusting.

Les and Robinson met while they lived on the same estate, the Avenues, Chester-le-Street.

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, who lives in Shotton Colliery, Co Durham, said: "The murders really cut him up."

Les Cope now lives on a worker's co-operative in Plawsworth, Chester-le- Street and declined to comment.