The grandfather of Star Hobson's mother has spoken publicly about her release from prison.
David Fawcett, from Baildon, is the grandfather of Frankie Smith, the mother of 16-month-old Star, who died in September 2020 in Keighley.
Ms Smith, now 20, was jailed for causing or allowing the death of her daughter in Keighley and has now been released.
Frankie Smith (Image: West Yorkshire Police)
Mr Fawcett said: "She was released last week.
"She wasn’t released early.
"She was supposed to do half her sentence.
David Fawcett and his great-granddaughter Star Hobson (Image: David Fawcett)
"I’ve known for the last five-and-a-half years that Frankie was coming out on September 28.
"She has served her six years.
"She’s on licence."
Star Hobson (Image: David Fawcett)
Savannah Brockhill, 28, was convicted of murdering Star after inflicting fatal injuries during a violent attack at their home in Wesley Place, Keighley.
Mr Fawcett defended his granddaughter and criticised comments made by Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore, who described Smith’s release as "a complete and utter disgrace."
Ealier, Mr Moore had said: "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.
Star Hobson (Image: David Fawcett)
"This is a complete and utter disgrace and I cannot believe that the Prime Minister has allowed this early release to happen."
Mr Fawcett said: "The comments made by Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley, were disgusting.
"She was sentenced while the Conservative government was still in power."
He also challenged the repeated description of Star as "the Keighley toddler."
Star Hobson (Image: David Fawcett)
Mr Fawcett said: "Everyone talks about Star as the Keighley toddler, but she was from Baildon.
"She and Frankie lived with us in Baildon until only a few weeks before her death.
"It’s upset a lot of the family.
"We don’t know anyone from Keighley and Frankie didn’t know anyone from Keighley.
"She lived most of her life in Baildon."
David Fawcett plays the guitar for his great-granddaughter Star Hobson (Image: David Fawcett)
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice confirmed that Ms Smith was not part of an early-release scheme and was released on licence.
The spokesperson said: "Offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions and can be returned to prison immediately if they breach them."
Mr Fawcett said his granddaughter is trying to adjust to life outside prison but remains under strict conditions.
He said: "She’s doing ok, but she’s sort of finding her feet.
"She’s got to stay where she’s staying and she has a curfew of 7pm.
"It’s not a lot different from prison.
"I don’t know how long this will be for, but we can’t even see her at the moment."
He described the close relationship he once had with Ms Smith and the impact of social media on their family.
Mr Fawcett said: "We were very close.
"It’s difficult now with things people are saying on social media.
"People don’t know her."
He believes that everything changed when Ms Smith met Brockhill, whom he described as a "monster" who isolated her from the family.
Mr Fawcett said: "We always thought was something not quite right about her.
"She used to abuse Frankie as well,
"Frankie got in with the wrong person.
"She was a control freak.
"It’s so sad."
He said that Ms Smith did notice signs of Brockhill’s abuse towards Star, but he said Brockhill 'always had an excuse'.
Mr Fawcett recalled a chilling moment between the pair.
He said: "When Frankie told her: 'I’m off' and threatened to leave her, she told Frankie: 'You’ll never get away from me. See what I can do, and then Frankie heard a bang.'
"If she hadn’t come into our lives, we wouldn’t be in this position now."
Mr Fawcett stood by his granddaughter throughout the trial and described the loss of Star as "awful."
He said that prison staff at New Hall, near Huddersfield, told him Ms Smith was "never a spot of bother."
As the family begins to move forward, Mr Fawcett said: "We just have to get on with it.
"It’s going to be hard."
He continues to remember his great-granddaughter.
Mr Fawcett said: "When I wake in the morning I think about Star, and my partner Anita always kisses the photo of Star on the wall.
"I go down to her resting place two of three times a week to see her and talk to her."