The Parole Board has refused to overturn its direction to release a convicted murderer who stabbed a woman 60 times.

Steven Ling was jailed for life in 1998 for murdering Joanne Tulip, 29, in Stamfordham, Northumberland, on Christmas Day in 1997.

The board was asked by the Lord Chancellor to reconsider its September ruling Ling should be released after serving 27 years of his life sentence.

Ling admitted rape but the charge was left to lie on file meaning he has not been classed as a sex offender.

A Parole Board spokesman said “based on the evidence” the application for reconsideration “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,” he said.

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