Britain's foremost children's charity reacted with anger today to the sentences handed out to three people convicted over the brutal death of Baby P.

Judge Stephen Kramer, QC, imposed unlimited sentences on the baby's mother and lodger Jason Owen at the Old Bailey. The mother's boyfriend was sentenced to life.

But the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said that the minimum terms were unacceptable.

The mother of Baby P, who can now be called Peter, was given a minimum tariff of five years, her boyfriend ten years and Owen three years.

Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: “We are disappointed that the minimum tariff was so low. It raises the question of how bad the abuse has to be before offenders get a longer minimum time in prison.

“Baby Peter suffered sustained abuse, leaving him with horrendous injuries. Two of his abusers could walk free at a time when Peter should be a schoolboy with a new world in front of him. Despicable cruelty has denied him that opportunity.

“These three caused or allowed the torture and death of a defenceless baby. They may be behind bars now but when released from prison they must be put under the most stringent monitoring so they can never harm another child.

“The authorities must use every measure at their disposal to manage these individuals when they are freed."

Peter's mother was described by the judge as manipulative, self-centred and calculating as he imposed the unlimited sentence. He told her that she would be released only when the parole board deemed she was no longer a risk to the public and in particular to children.

She will be able to apply for parole in just over three years because of time already spent in custody.

Her former boyfriend was given life imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a two-year-old girl and a concurrent sentence of 12 years for causing or allowing the death of Baby P. Neither he nor Peter's mother can be named for legal reasons.

Peter's father, who cannot be named, was in court to see the three sentenced and wiped away tears as the boyfriend was sentenced.

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