Jon Venables' parole bid rejected as sick child killer will not walk free

13 December 2023 , 10:43

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Jon Venables' parole bid rejected as sick child killer will not walk free

Evil killer Jon Venables has today had his bid for freedom rejected by a parole board - providing huge relief for his victim's family.

Twisted Venables, who was just 10 when he brutally tortured and killed tiny two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, will now spend at least another two years in prison after parole chiefs deemed he is still a danger to society. But the now 41-year-old killer, who has returned to prison twice since being released for James' murder, could spend even longer in jail if new plans to keep dangerous, reoffending criminals indefinitely are passed.

Today Kym Morris, a spokeswoman for James' mum Denise Fergus, exclusively told the Mirror: "This is the day Denise has waited for years. The prospect of him coming out was terrifying as we knew he'd harm again. This is a day we celebrate and we thank the parole board for making the correct decision."

Jon Venables will not be released (PA)

Despite submissions from justice secretary Alex Chalk and his predecessor Dominic Raab that Venables was still a danger to society, Venables was granted an unprecedented two-day hearing, which took place behind closed doors earlier this month, because it "would harm his mental health".

But after arguing that the hearing should be private, he failed to show up - meaning all evidence was read to the parole board. After almost two weeks deliberating, they decided Venables was still too much of a danger to be released - and he was sent straight back to prison.

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James Bulger was killed in 1993 (PA)

Denise Bulger, the mother of James (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

He can re-apply for parole in two years - but may never get the chance if new justice reforms are brought in that mean repeat serious offenders will stay in jail.

Venables shocked the nation when he and Robert Thompson barbarically murdered James after snatching him from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside in 1993.

Both were released after less than eight years in a reoffenders institute. But despite Thompson, also 41, not believed to have reoffended, Venables has been recalled to prison twice for making sexual images of children.

The Government is hoping to get the new Victims and Prisoners bill through by early next year – meaning any justice secretary will have a final say on whether repeat offenders are allowed to be released from prison.

Ben Griffiths