Mother who allowed her toddler to be murdered set to be freed early after just three years under Labour scheme

By JON BRADY, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:49, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 15:57, 4 August 2026 A mother who let her daughter be murdered by her evil boyfriend will be back on the streets within a year - after serving just one third of her sentence. Dana Carr, 27, is set to be free by Christmas after being jailed in December 2023 for allowing the death of two-year-old Maya Chappell, who was shaken to death by Carr's boyfriend Michael Daymond. Maya's father, James Chappell, had sought to intervene to save the youngster, but Carr deliberately turned a blind eye to her boyfriend's sickening pattern of abuse. The youngster's family had called on the Prime Minister to review the early release scheme - but have since learned that Carr will be allowed free earlier than planned thanks to Labour. Around 1,000 criminals including rapists and paedophiles have been exempted from the early release scheme and will serve their sentences as planned.   Maya's great-aunt Gemma Chappell, 48, said Andy Burnham's concession to child safety campaigners and victims 'doesn't go far enough'. She said: 'We welcome the fact that the government has listened and made a decision to block the release of rapists and child sex offenders. 'But it just doesn't go far enough. It's almost like they are saying some victims matter and others don't. Words escape me.' Maya Chappell was killed by her mother's boyfriend, Michael Daymond, after he shook her violently at home in 2022 Her mother Dana Carr is due to be released after serving just three years in prison for allowing her daughter's death Maya Chappell's great-aunt Gemma Chappell (pictured) fears the youngster's mother will re-offend if released early Carr had given birth to Maya while in a relationship with the girl's father, James Chappell, but allowed the tot to be abused by boyfriend Daymond, who is serving a life term with a minimum term of 20 years, over the course of several weeks. He had sought to cover up his abuse, writing in one text to Carr: 'Babe I really hope you don't think I'm doing this to her.' Carr had replied: 'I would never ever think that.'  She even said in one message to her ex, Mr Chappell: 'I don't know what to do... she's marking herself ridic [ridiculous].'  Daymond, a womaniser and steroid user, went on to violently shake Maya at home in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, in September 2022 - just nine weeks after he entered into a relationship with Carr.  He phoned 999 - and as paramedics fought to save Maya's life, he phoned the Department of Work and Pensions to ask why his Universal Credit had been cut off. The toddler died in hospital two days later. Carr, who claimed Maya had fallen out of bed, was convicted of child cruelty and allowing her daughter's death. Ms Chappell, a police officer, believes her great-niece's mother cannot be rehabilitated.  The family has campaigned for several years on 'Maya's Law', which they say would close the gaps in safeguarding that facilitated the abuse. She added: 'Dana Carr has shown a lack of responsibility for what she has done. They are going to put her back on the streets, and in our eyes we think she will re-offend. Who will be held responsible for that? 'We have a justice system in place that is there supposedly for victims and to help get justice, but there is no justice with this. 'Only next month will Dana have served the same age as how old Maya was when she was murdered, and now she will be out for Christmas or just after. 'That isn't justice and it puts victims back massively, it's ridiculous.' The early release scheme was paused in late July pending an 'urgent review' by Mr Burnham but it was confirmed today that the scheme will be going ahead from October. Ms Chappell, from Consett, still has a number of concerns about how it will affect victims, and believes the government have continually been 'moving the goalposts'. She said: 'We just don't have trust in what they are doing right now - we have been let down left, right and centre. 'It feels like we aren't allowed to grieve in our own right, because we all have to campaign and fight against the government. That's wrong.' The decision to release some prisoners early has already attracted fury from the family of PC Andrew Harper, who was dragged behind a car for more than a mile by three teenage thugs trying to steal a quad bike. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were both 17 at the time, are in line to be released in January 2027.  They were jailed for 13 years for the police officer's manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020, and are eligible for release after serving half of their sentences under the revised early release plan. It has sparked fury among PC Harper's loved ones and concern from Jason Hogg, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, who pointed out that under Harper's Law - enacted in the officer's memory - the pair would now be jailed for life. 'I am beyond disappointed the Government is continuing to allow PC Andrew Harper's killers to be released early from prison despite the overwhelming recent public outcry,' he said. 'It is simple: if Andrew's killers were convicted today, they would receive life sentences due to the law that was created in his name. They would not be eligible for early release. 'This decision is demoralising for all police officers and our fellow emergency service workers, not just in the Thames Valley, who put themselves in harm's way to protect and serve their communities.' Justice Secretary Alex Norris said he had called PC Harper's family to apologise for the early release of Cole and Bowers - who smirked as they were led to prison - but refused to back down. He told the BBC that the government wanted to 'go further' but stated drawing the scheme wider would cause a 'prison capacity crisis.' The driver of the car, Henry Long, was jailed for 16 years for murder and is not eligible for release.