Child Killer Jon Venables Could Enjoy Xmas Release as James’ Family Insists He’ll Kill Again
Convicted paedophile and child killer Jon Venables could be released from prison this month as he awaits a parole board hearing on December 11.
As ten-year-old boys, Venables along with his accomplice, Robert Thompson abducted 2-year-old James Bulger as he was shopping with his mother in a Liverpool mall on February 12, 1993.
James’ family is said to be ‘’anxious’ about the killer’s possible release:
‘’They are braced for bad news and fear that Venables will be back on the streets and will celebrate Christmas as a free man,’’ said a family spokesperson.
The two boys abused, tortured and killed little James by throwing rocks and beating the toddler to death on a local railway line in Bootle, Liverpool. Merseyside Police found James’ battered body days later.
Venables and Thompson were two of the youngest criminals in Britain to face murder charges. Because of the severity and brutality of the crime, the judge made the unprecedented decision to release the names and photographs of the two minors following their conviction.
Both boys served 8 years in a young offender’s home and were released with new identities after the judge granted them lifelong anonymity when they reached 18 in 2003.
Since this time, Thompson has presumably reformed and maintained a crime-free life under his new alias.
Venables, by contrast, has consistently re-offended. In 2008, he was arrested for affray after a drunken brawl outside a pub but was released with a police warning.
After a routine check at his home in 2010, Venables was found to have over a thousand images of child abuse on his computer which the prosecuting judge described as ‘’heartbreaking for any ordinary person to see’’.
He was recalled to prison for indecent images of children for a second time in 2017 and is now facing the possibility of freedom in time for Christmas.
James Bulger’s mother, Denise Fergus, 54, has been a long-term advocate for her son’s killer to be kept behind bars:
‘’If you let him free, you could be ruining the lives of another family like ours,’’ the grieving mother begged the Parole Board.
‘’When you look at Venables’ file just remember what he is capable of. He killed my son James, has reoffended time and time again and I have no doubt he would kill another child if he is released.’’
The decision comes as Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, plans to implement national parole reforms so that dangerous criminals who continually re-offend can be kept locked up indefinitely.
‘’If the Justice Secretary is serious on reform then he must allow me to be present at Venables’s parole hearing, just as I was at his Old Bailey hearing,’’ said James’ father, Ralph Bulger of the proposed Bill.
‘’I want Venables to hear why I believe he should have his parole denied. For too long, victims and families have been ignored while authorities put the so-called rights of dangerous criminals first.’’
In memory of her son and to help other young people in need, Denise set up the For James charity which aims to ‘’support young people who are disadvantaged by reason of having become a part of bereavement, a victim of crime, hatred or bullying.’’
‘The charity’s website continues: ”James Bulger will never be forgotten. He was a fun-loving, innocent little boy whose life was so cruelly taken away from him.’’
