Angela Allen was one of four women who assaulted children and shared images in a paedophile ring

Vanessa George's 'truly evil' paedophile accomplice Angela Allen, who raped a three-year-old girl, will be freed from prison after serving 10 years.

Allen, from Bulwell, near Nottingham, was sentenced in December 2009 after admitting four counts of sexual assault of a child, and one of distribution of indecent images of children.

She had been one of four women who assaulted children and shared images in a paedophile ring run by IT consultant Colin Blanchard that included Vanessa George - who abused children at a nursery in Plymouth.

When the horrific offences came to light Detective Superintendent Adrian Pearson, head of Nottinghamshire Police's Public Protection Unit, branded Allen 'sinister and evil', adding: 'She shed not one tear in custody. She showed no remorse for her actions.

'She was the most graphic of the three suspects we have dealt with. Angela Allen is truly evil.'

Mr Justice John Royce had warned her she would only be released if she didn't pose a threat any more.

The Parole Board for England and Wales considered Allen's case at a hearing on December 18, where it was determined whether 'it was no longer necessary for the protection of the public that Ms Allen remained confined in prison', Nottinghamshire Live reported.

The Parole Board for England and Wales considered Allen's case at a hearing on December 18, where it was determined whether 'it was no longer necessary for the protection of the public that Ms Allen remained confined in prison

The decision reads: 'After considering the circumstances of her offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing and in the dossier, the panel was satisfied that Ms Allen was suitable for release once her designated accommodation became available.'

She became eligible for consideration on June 20, 2014, and this most recent hearing was Allen's fourth Parole Board review.

The Parole Board panel received oral evidence from Allen herself, her probation officer, the official who supervised her case in prison, and a prison service psychologist.

Allen started her life in Manchester but was taken into care in Nottingham in the early 1970s.

Indeterminate sentences - given to dangerous criminal but later ruled illegal Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences were first introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003. They were designed to safeguard the public from criminals whose crimes did not merit a life sentence but were still considered dangerous should they be released. But far more were handed out than anticipated, swamping the parole board and leaving convicts 'trapped in the system'. They have no expiry date, with the release date of the prisoner decided by the Parole Board, who must judge whether or not they pose a risk to the public. Critics of the scheme described the sentences as 'unlawful', and they were eventually scrapped in 2012 by then justice secretary Ken Clarke, who described them as a 'stain' on the justice system. While no prisoner can now be sentenced under IPP, around 2,500 people in England and Wales are still locked up under the tariff, unsure of when they will be released. Advertisement

She spent time at a children’s home in the city which later found itself at the subject of abuse allegations by some former residents.

Allen was later moved to another home and spent time at two schools in the city Aspley, St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School and then Trinity School.

She became a prostitute and had some convictions for minor crimes. She first made contact with Colin Blanchard via a dating application on Facebook.

They began exchanging regular text messages, and he convinced her to sexually assault young children and share the images. Some of her messages included invitations to rape a child.

In September 2006 Vanessa George had started work at Little Ted's nursery in Plymouth, and by Autumn 2008 IT worker Colin Blanchard, previously caught with child sex abuse images, made contact with her.

By late 2008 George, Blanchard and now Allen had exchanged child abuse images online. Detectives said they could have been participating in a competition to take the most depraved pictures.

Blanchard was arrested at Manchester Airport on June 6, 2009 after his business partner fond indecent images on his computer, and two days later George was arrested, her electronic devices were seized, and she was identified from Blanchard's computers and interviews.

George first appeared in court on June 11, 2009, sexual assault and making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children. In October that year George, Allen and Blanchard admitted various charges at Bristol Crown Court.

In January 2011 Blanchard was jailed for at least nine years following long-running legal proceedings, and two other members of the paedophile ring - Tracy Dawber and Tracy Lyons - were also jailed.

It comes after news that Vanessa George, left, is being given a new taxpayer-funded flat after serving ten years in prison. Pictured right: Colin Blanchard

CCTV footage of George on the phone to her lawyer while in police custody in Plymouth

Timeline of the horrific Little Ted's abuse case September 2006: Vanessa George starts working at Little Ted's nursery in Plymouth. Autumn 2008: IT worker Colin Blanchard, previously caught with child sex abuse images, makes contact with George. Late 2008/early 2009: George, Blanchard and other woman, Angela Allen, exchange child abuse images online. Detectives believe they may have been involved in a three-way contest to take the most depraved pictures. June 6, 2009: Blanchard is arrested at Manchester Airport after his business partner discovers indecent images on his computer June 8, 2009: George is arrested, her computer and mobile seized. She is identified from Blanchard's computers and interviews. June 9, 2009: Little Ted's nursery is shut. June 11, 2009: George first appears in court, sexual assault and making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children. Members of the public shout at her and spit from public gallery. October 1, 2009: George, Allen and Blanchard plead guilty to various charges at Bristol Crown Court. January 10, 2011: Blanchard is jailed for at least nine years following long-running legal proceedings. Two other members of his paedophile ring Tracy Dawber and Tracy Lyons, are also jailed. July 11, 2019: It emerges that the parole board have approved George's release. September 18, 2019: Vanessa George is freed from prison. Advertisement

Lyons, who was jailed for sending child abuse pictures to Blanchard, has now been released from prison.

Dawber, who had been in a year-long relationship with the ringleader, received a four-year sentence for abusing a two-year-old boy while Blanchard filmed it.

On July 11 last year it emerged that the Parole Board approved George's release, and she was set free on September 19.

The new revelation comes after news that George is being given a new taxpayer-funded flat after serving ten years in prison.

George had been staying in a bail hostel in Birmingham since October.

The 49-year-old, who is forbidden from returning to Devon or Cornwall, is believed to be still living somewhere in the Midlands, according to the Daily Record.

George was jailed for a minimum of seven years in 2009 after she sexually assaulted up to 64 children as young as two before filming the abuse and sending it to other paedophiles.

In July, despite outrage from her victims' parents and MPs, the Parole Board ordered her release after she'd served 10 years behind bars.

George, who lost three of her 19 stone in prison, convinced the board to release her after having treatment to boost her 'self-esteem'.

In 2009, George admitted 13 sexual assault charges, but maintained a silence over the names of children she assaulted.

Child protection officers have visited 180 children thought to have had contact with George, and 21 families have taken up an offer of support.

Allen had first made contact with Colin Blanchard through a dating application on Facebook, and the pair started exchanging text messages.

Blanchard persuaded Allen to sexually assault young children and share the images - but she never met the paedophile ringleader in person.

Allen was described by Nottinghamshire Police as 'sinister' and 'truly evil' when she was jailed at age 40.

The ringleader of the paedophile group, Colin Blanchard, will be eligible for parole this year after being jailed in 2011 for a minimum of nine years.