CHILD killer Mairead Philpott can sign up for weekly yoga and art classes at her comfy new home – and she’ll get a hamper stuffed with goodies at Christmas.
The 39-year-old killed her six children and was freed after serving just half of her 17-year sentence for manslaughter – but she’s now living in an all-girls hostel full of perks.
It will cost the taxpayer £600-a-week to house Philpott in an en-suite room as she plans her life as a free woman surrounded by her new pals.
She will also be encouraged to create a ‘mood diary’ in which she can stick in pictures of furniture, bedding and plants she wants when she moves into a house of her own, as well as snaps of holiday destinations.
A source revealed: “The centre has yoga and painting classes laid on and the residents keep diaries in which they can plan how they want their new homes to look and they put in pictures of the places they’d like to visit as well.”
The killer will stay in the modern, all-female hostel for up to 12 weeks as staff and a charity help her find her own place to live as well as assess her for jobs and college courses.
Philpott will have to adhere to a curfew and will be tested for drugs and alcohol, and her room will also undergo searches for contraband items.
The killer – who is being housed in the south of England – will be offered a group of ready-made friends now she’s free so she doesn’t feel vulnerable or lonely.
A charity working with dangerous offenders will mobilise a group of up to six volunteers who will be her pals.
Residents also receive a hamper of items like toiletries which are made up from supplies donated from local shops and supermarkets.
Philpott, 39, was jailed in April 2013 after being found guilty of the manslaughter of her ten-year-old daughter Jade and her sons Duwayne, 13, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five.
She planned the arson attack on the family home in Allenton, Derby, with her husband Mick Philpott, who is still serving a life sentence and will not be released until at least 2027.
Philpott was freed just over a week ago from HMP Send in Surrey to a hostel in the south of England, where she will be supervised while on licence.
Her release was criticised by campaigners and the Conservative MP for Mid Derbyshire, Pauline Latham, who said she was seeking assurances that Philpott would not be returning to the area.
The MP said in a statement: “I am disgusted that this foul woman has her liberty while her daughter and five sons lie in their graves.
“Eight-and-a-half years in jail amounts to her serving less than 18 months for each of those poor children. How can that possibly be right?
“Those in charge of making these decisions need to think longer and harder about the victims and the value of their lives.
“In addition, this horrible crime is still very raw in Derby and I fear what would happen if she turned up in the city.”
The Centre for Crime Prevention described the release as “appalling” and called for killers to serve their full sentences for such crimes.
“The system of automatically releasing criminals like her half way through their sentence means that in cases like this justice is not being done,” said research director David Spencer.”
The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for a comment.
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