Bid to block release of sadistic Christmas Day killer Stephen Ling fails
by Sophie Doughty · ChronicleLiveA bid to block the release of sadistic Christmas Day killer Stephen Ling has failed.
The twisted murderer has been behind bars for more than 25 years after being convicted of murdering Joanne Tulip in a sickening attack. Ling subjected his 29-year-old victim to horrifying violence at his home in Stamfordham, Northumberland, where she was raped, and stabbed 60 times, in 1997. The killer even carved images including swastikas and crosses into her body.
Last month the Parole Board has decided Ling was now safe to be freed from prison and directed that he should be released, despite hearing that he still posed a risk of causing serious harm to others.
The board was asked by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to reconsider its ruling and keep Ling behind bars. However, her request has been refused.
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. 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.”
The Parole Board heard details of Joanne's horrific murder during a hearing in July. Ling met his victim in a pub on Christmas Eve and after drinking heavily he turned up at the place she was staying during the early hours of Christmas Day. The killer persuaded Joanne to come with him to his home by pretending there was a party there. But when she arrived he punched her, then got a knife and raped her. During or immediately after the rape, Ling stabbed Joanne and and attempted to suffocate her. When the knife broke, he found another knife and continued his attack until she died.
Ling fled the scene, but confessed to killing Joanne when he was arrested for a suspected traffic offence a few hours later.
The then 23-year-old was jailed for life after pleading guilty to murder. He was originally handed a minimum jail term of 20 years, but this was reduced to 18 after an appeal. The rape offence was left to lie on file, meaning Ling is not a convicted sex offender and will not be on the sex offenders register after his release.
The two day parole review hearing heard how Ling's "risk factors" included a preoccupation with sex and distorted attitudes to sex and women, along with anger issues. The panel was told of work he had completed in prison to address these issues, and his behaviour in custody was described as "exemplary".
However, Ling’s risk of causing serious harm was assessed as high by his Community Offender Manager. And the panel was told that this assessment of Ling would not be reduced regardless of work completed in custody, until he has been tested in the community. But after hearing all other evidence the panel concluded that Ling only posed a medium risk of causing serious harm, and that; "warning signs would be apparent to those supervising him before his risk increased to a level that may result in harm to others".
After considering Ling's offending, progress made in prison and the the risk management plan for his release the panel concluded that it was no longer necessary to keep him inside to protect the public and that he should be released subject to supervision and licence conditions.
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?”
She previously told the Chronicle of her fears the killer would strike again.
Doreen said: "I'm disgusted, it's unbelievable, it doesn't make sense. I'm terrified he could strike again, it's just the way he's wired. I would just say to people, 'lock up your daughters'.
"What's he going to do when he's out in the community and goes into a pub. He's not going to be able to resist a pretty girl after all these years. He needs keeping in. I don't care how much work they have done with him."
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