An MP is incensed that Star Hobson’s mother has been released from prison six years after the toddler’s death.
Frankie Smith, 20, was jailed for causing or allowing the death of her 16-month-old daughter in Keighley in September 2020.
Smith’s then-partner, Savannah Brockhill, 28, was convicted of murdering Star after inflicting fatal injuries during a violent attack at their Wesley Place home.
The Ministry of Justice pointed out that offenders released on bail are subject to strict conditions - but Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore branded her released a "complete and utter disgrace."
A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: "This was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with all those affected.
"Offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions and can be returned to prison immediately if they breach them."
Smith was initially sentenced to eight years at Bradford Crown Court, but the Court of Appeal later quashed that term and imposed a 12-year sentence.
Frankie Smith has been released
Because Smith was under 18 when Star died, Dame Victoria Sharp ruled that she should serve half her sentence, rather than the two-thirds originally set, in a young offender institution.
The Ministry of Justice said Smith’s release was not part of the Government’s early-release scheme.
Smith was cleared of murder and manslaughter but convicted of causing or allowing Star’s death.
In a video message to his constituents, Mr Moore said: "I am completely and utterly incensed at this Labour Government.
"It's Thursday, October 8, and I am just out and about in between surgery meetings. You will remember the horrendous and shocking case of baby Star Hobson who was murdered in Keighley at just 16 months old on September 22, 2020.
"Well, I have literally just found out that Frankie Smith, Star Hobson's mother, who was convicted of causing or allowing the death of her own baby daughter, who was murdered by Frankie Smith's partner Savannah Brockhill has just been released early from prison.
"This is a complete and utter disgrace and I cannot believe that the Prime Minister has allowed this early release to happen.
"You may remember that after Franke Smith was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to eight years in prison, I wrote straight away to the Attorney General at the time demanding that the sentence was significantly increased under the Unduly Lenient Scheme by the Court of Appeal to which it eventually was increased with her sentence being extended to 12 years in prison.
"Now I have just found out today that Frankie has been released after serving a pathetic six years. Worried that this might be the case, I wrote to this Labour Government, to the Ministry of Justice to seek further clarification, and they haven't even had the decency to write back to me as the Member of Parliament, and I have only just read this in the press, and I am furious on behalf of us all across Keighley.
"What on earth does this say about our pathetic justice system in this country under this Government? So I have written again to the Ministry of Justice and the Prime Minister demanding that Frankie is put behind bars where she belongs to serve the remainder of her sentence. She should never have been released out of prison early."
Keighley and Ilklye MP Robbie Moore (Image: submitted)
In her sentencing remarks, Mrs Justice Christina Lambert told Smith: "You have lost your daughter and you played a significant role by allowing her death.
"You have to live with that for the rest of your life.
"Despite the evidence, you failed to seek help, you failed to disassociate from Savannah Brockhill, continuing the relationship for your own ends.
"You allowed her into your flat, gave unsupervised access to Star.
"I do accept you were the victim of physical violence and your immaturity, but I find your offending falls squarely in category A, high culpability.
"You also lied to police, going along with the suggestion to make up a story you were both absent from the room.
"Once again, you protected Savannah Brockhill at the expense of finding out what happened to your daughter."
Brockhill was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for murdering Star.
Attorney General representatives told the Court of Appeal that Smith's original sentence was “unduly lenient”, with too much weight given to mitigating factors and too little to the case’s aggravating circumstances.
Star died from catastrophic abdominal injuries caused by severe blunt force trauma.