James Bulger's mum says Jon Venables will reoffend like Gary Glitter if freed
Tragic James Bulger’s mum has urged parole bosses to knock back his killer’s bid for freedom, saying: “He’ll kill a child again. Don’t let that happen to another family.”
Campaigning Denise Fergus said she was initially deflated when informed a crunch parole hearing of Jon Venables – who abducted and murdered James, two, in 1993 in Merseyside – was being planned for as early as next month.
But Denise, 54, said she would not shy away from coming face to face with him for the first time if she can attend.
She said the recall to prison of paedophile rocker Gary Glitter strengthens her argument to keep Venables behind bars.
James Bulger, two, was murdered in 1993 after being abducted from a shopping centre (PA)She said: “Seeing Gary Glitter, who is a prolific reoffender, slipping back into his old ways is frightening and just shows that people like him, and Venables in my opinion, never change.
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“It is an example of why someone like Venables should never be let free.
“I just hope the Parole Board see what has happened with Glitter and realise that Venables would offend again too. It’s inevitable if he is freed.”
Denise added: “I’ve never seen Venables face to face. I have no desire to. But having to see him would not put me off going. I’m not scared of him.
“I was pretty deflated when I was told it was being readied but I’ve got it in my head it’s going to happen now.
Ten-year-olds Jon Venables (above) and Robert Thompson were convicted of murder (PA)“This hearing feels like D-Day in our justice for James. If his parole is blocked, I would be hopeful he would never see the light of day again.”
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has assured her that under his parole reform plans, a dangerous, reoffending prisoner like Jon Venables would never go free.
A submission from Raab is expected to implore the board not to free him.
If his bid is blocked it would mean the Government would have two years to get the bill through before the killer would be considered again.
Denise has written an impassioned victim impact statement for the hearing. Addressing parole chiefs who will make the decision, she said: “If you let him free, you could be ruining the lives of another family like ours.
“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.
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“He has clearly got evil still in him and if he is released, whoever has that final say, will have that on their heads when he inevitably goes on to commit another crime. Don’t let it happen.”
Haunting CCTV footage shows James being led away by his killers (PA)Denise was interviewed alongside Kym Darby, the chairwoman of the James Bulger Memorial Trust.
They said they will never stop fighting for justice for James – who would have celebrated his 33rd birthday today – even if Venables gets out.
James, from Kirkby, was a month away from his third birthday when he was snatched by Venables and Robert Thompson, both aged 10, from a shopping centre in Bootle, tortured and brutally murdered. The child killers were convicted of murder in November 1993 and detained indefinitely.
The pair were released aged 18 in 2001 after just eight years, and were given new identities.
Thompson, 39, has not reoffended. But Venables was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images on his PC. He was turned down for parole in 2020 after serving his minimum 40 months.
Last year, Denise met Mr Raab at his parliamentary office where he laid out his “two strikes and you’re in” scheme – meaning a repeat offender like Venables will never see the light of day again. But that is unlikely to be passed until later this year at the earliest.
Denise, who was informed about the parole hearing plans earlier this year, said: “I think his hearing will be too soon for Raab’s proposals.
“I have decided, I’m not going to let it take over my life like it used to.
“I have accepted that the worst case scenario is that Venables is let out and that is when I will come out kicking and screaming.”
Denise Fergus warns that Jon Venables is a repeat offender like Gary Glitter (PA)Kym, who has chaired the trust since 2020, said: “Finally for the first time ever Denise is being kept up to date with what is happening. It’s good to know that we will be informed as soon as there is a development. That hasn’t always been the case.”
Charles Bronson, one of the UK’s longest-serving prisoners, is currently facing a public parole hearing – newly introduced for when a case is in the interest of justice.
It has yet to be specified if Venables’ hearing will be open, but Denise and husband Stuart have appealed to go.
Denise is also focused on helping others who have gone through a similar trauma.
She said: “I’ve had lots of people contact me through the charity who have been in similar situations. People are saying that they’ve read my book or previous articles in the Mirror, that I’m giving them a reason to carry on.
“It’s 30 years since we lost James and I want to make this year the one in which we keep Venables inside and get justice for my son James.”
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