Lifelong anonymity is put in place by courts rarely and is usually in only the most infamous and horrific cases. The child killer was released from a young offenders' institution under licence in 2001 and has not re-offended since. By the time Thompson and Venables skipped school together on February 12, 1993, the two boys were good friends. Many of these witnesses later admitted that Bulger looked distressed. But according to some sources, Venables does not want to be freed, in part over fears hell re-offend and in part over his inability to avoid drugs. "To let him out could be another death sentence for an innocent child like James. Interestingly, his partner knows his real identity. ", Outside court, solicitor advocate for the Bulgers, Robin Makin, said: "The authorities seem to be hell-bent on protecting JV regardless of the risk to others and this has been a primary driving force behind Ralph and Jimmys application.". Updated: 15:25 ET, Sep 29 2021 ROBERT Thompson abducted and tortured to death two-year-old James Bulger alongside his partner in crime Jon Venables when they were just ten years old. Ralph expressed concern that Jon would reoffend if released from prison with a new identity. But it didnt take long for Venables to confess. They were remanded to separate maximum security juvenile institutions under aliases, out of fear for their safety. Jon Venables was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, not far from half the amount of time he served for joining Robert Thompson in perpetrating the murder of James Bulger a quarter-century before. Three months later, he got off with a warning after police caught him in possession of a small amount of cocaine. An official Parole Board summary explained why Venables, who was said to use "sex and pornography as a means of coping", was not deemed safe to be released from jail. At trial in 1993, Thompson was painted as the ringleader, leading Venables on at every turn. To this day, the motive still remains unclear. Though Bulgers mother Denise Fergus had been holding his hand, she had briefly let go to pay for groceries, only to look down with horror and realize that her child had vanished. In addition, they thought that the kidnappers mightve been 13 or 14 years old, which threw them off track. Thompson was held at Barton Moss near Manchester, where he cultivated an interest in subjects like art and theater. The images included category A photos, the most serious type, and he also admitted having a paedophile manual. While there, he reportedly told his fellow inmates that he was a car thief. At the mall, James Bulger killers wandered from shop to shop, stealing anything they could get their hands on, then tossing their stolen booty down escalators just for the fun of it. It was suggested authorities believed paying for James Bulgers killer to go to a country like Canada, Australia or New Zealand would be cheaper than funding more failed new starts in the UK. The computer was taken away and 57 indecent images of children over a 12-month period were found. But unfortunately, their story didnt end in 1993. He added: "As Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss held, (Venables) is 'uniquely notorious' and there is a strong possibility, if not a probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences. However, Venables was recalled to prison in November 2017 when he was caught with the sickening child abuse images once again. The next day, police searched the canal where the boys had been earlier in the afternoon because an eyewitness had reported seeing Bulger there. It wont be a slap on the wrist for me.. James Bulger's grieving father Ralph lost a High Court bid to have information about Venables made public. He was jailed for two years. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. But Blake Morrison, the author of As If: A Crime, a Trial, a Question of Childhood, a book on the trial, points out that Venables had a temper and had been known to lose control and had done some pretty weird things[and it was] just as likely that he was the instigator.. After a three-week trial, the jury took only five hours to render a guilty verdict for the boys. A life for a life.. We pay for videos too. He and his second wife Natalie McDermott, welcomed a baby girl in 2014. In their bid to have Venables' identity disclosed, lawyers for Ralph and Jimmy Bulger argued certain details about the killer and his life are "common knowledge" and easily accessible online. Robert had no father figure as his dad abandoned the family five years before the murder. The older boys Jon Venables and Robert Thompson seem like they could be the brothers of the toddler as some bystanders thought in the mall that day. Its not surprising that he may have revealed his true identity, given the enormity of what hes done and the difficulty of coming to terms with that and a new identity,Harry said. Jon Venables was 10 when he and Robert Thompson killed James Bulger The post was shared 627 times. Despite positive behaviour and landing a job in jail, Parole officials ruled Venables was still not safe to be released. Here is what we know about the child killer and who was released from a young offenders' institution under licence in 2001. In Channel 5's two-part documentary Lost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger, one of the investigators who questioned Thompson said the young boy was "street smart" and "clever," and said the ten-year-old was "trying very, very hard to con me.". Venables soon blurted out, I did kill him. The kid killers were condemned to an adolescent detainment office, where they resided until their parole in 2001 at 18 years old. His identity is protected by a worldwide injunction - meaning that even trying to find out where he lives could land you in jail. While inside, Venables received education and rehabilitation while being taught how to conceal his real name and horrifying crime. The killer was 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, which is. The child killer was released from a young offenders institution under licence in 2001 and has not re-offended since. February 13, 1993. In 2017, Venables was caught in possession of thousands of child pornography images and sentenced to a minimum of 40 months in prison. They were a match made in hell. On the anniversary of James' death, he was pictured visiting James's . Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. She was concerned, but another woman standing nearby said shed heard James laughing moments ago and so both assumed nothing was wrong. His dad abandoned the family five years before Bulger's murder - leaving mum Ann devastated. Jon Venables was just 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson abducted and murdered James Bulger alongside - and now he is back behind bars after being caught with horrific child abuse images. Venables took him by the hand. James Bulger being kidnapped by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, as seen on CCTV footage. Both boys were soon arrested, and it didnt take long for them to turn on each other. Venables and Thompson were both charged. The Liverpool railway embankment where James Bulgers body was found. His father had abandoned the family early on, causing his depressed mother to turn to alcohol and even attempt suicide. But the President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane rejected the bid, saying it was in place to protect Venables from being "put to death". Clickhereto upload yours. In June 2019, it was reported Venables was being assessed for a permanent move to Canada. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. He excelled in his academics and began to develop an interest in textiles. "This is, therefore, a wholly exceptional case and the evidence in 2019 is more than sufficient to sustain the conclusion that there continues to be a real risk of very substantial harm to (Venables).". The full story of how James Bulger killers Robert Thompson and Jon Venables led their two-year-old victim past dozens of witnesses on a grim path to his chilling death. Both of them served their eight-year sentences and earned release from prison in 2001 after they each had turned 18. Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368 . Though nearly three decades have passed, the story of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables remains shocking to this day. He was 10 years old. Nine months later, the trial began. A source said: Hes been relocated all over the country a large number of times costing a fortune. The murder of two-year-old James Bulger shocked Britain. But during separate police interviews, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson turned on each other. But once a child turns 18, their name can be reported. In rejecting Ralphs petition, Judge Sir Andrew McFarlane argued that releasing Jons information would endanger his life. Rumours had spread widely on social media that Jon Venables, who murdered James Bulger in 1993 along with Robert Thompson, had had his eyes ripped out in prison . The twisted child killer, now aged 39, took the youngster from a shopping centre along with friend Robert Thompson, before the baby's dead body by a railway track. More than 25 years later, the surveillance image above remains etched in the minds of the millions familiar with the James Bulger case. AT just ten years old, Jon Venables callously abducted and murdered James Bulger, 2, in 1993 in a case that sent shockwaves through the UK and the rest of the world. At 18 years old, Venables and Thompson were both released from a young offenders institution under licence in June 2001. "This is, therefore, a wholly exceptional case and the evidence in 2019 is more than sufficient to sustain the conclusion that there continues to be a real risk of very substantial harm to (Venables).". Venables' new identity has been changed twice after he told friends he was a convicted murderer. James Bulgers father Ralph Bulger (pictured) is fighting to keep Jon Venables in prison for life. They then bludgeoned him with bricks and stones, kicked his battered body, and shoved batteries into his mouth. The search ended two days after the disappearance when four children discovered Bulgers body on the railway track just 200 yards from the nearest police station. It was also noted that Venables had not requested a release from prison or a transfer to an open jail. Robert Thompson and Jon Venables The public was already outraged as the police were still not able to catch the killers. The killer was 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, which is the focus of tonight's new Channel 5 documentary Lost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger. Who suggested it is unclear; later, after they were arrested, each blamed the other. The lawyer, representing Ralph and his brother Jimmy, told a court on May 2 that the original injunction granted to Venables was on the basis that he was rehabilitated and did not re-offend. Where is Robert Thompson now? Due to the national furor surrounding their case, they were both given new identities. Living under new names, they would both follow different trajectories. She had thought that her son was by her side as she was placing her order at the butcher shop. How James Bulger Was Killed By Jon Venables And Robert Thompson. Not only did they find blue paint on Venables jacket, but they also found blood on Thompsons shoes. The pair tortured and murdered James, whose body was found by a railway line. BWP Media/Getty Images Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, pictured after their arrest for the murder of James Bulger. The seven years he spent in detention helped Robert as he is yet to reoffend or violate the terms of his release. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". Venables and Thompson were tried in an adult courtroom by a jury. What about his mum, will you tell her Im sorry?. The twisted child killer, now aged 39, took the youngster from a shopping centre along with friend Robert Thompson, before the baby's dead body by a railway track. I shouldnt have let go.. His mother treated her depression with heavy drinking and once tried to commit suicide. Now the tide has turned and finally he is facing real prison time where he should have been from the beginning., *Lost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger airs tonight on Channel 5 at 9pm and continues at the same time on Thursday, Get the biggest TV headlines, recaps and insider knowledge straight to your inbox. Retired detective Laurie Dalton recalled her feeling that Thompson was "pure evil" (via The Sun) and would try to manipulate the police during questioning. The youngster had no record of violence before he was found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . His current new identity came under threat in February 2018 after James Bulger's dad Ralph launched High Court proceedings against the order that allows him to live anonymously. I shouldnt have let go of his hand, Fergus later said. He lives in a community in the North West. Officials said: "Mr Venables indicated, through his legal representative, that he was benefiting from ongoing psychological work and did not ask the panel to direct his release or recommend a transfer to open conditions at this stage.". Officials wrote: "The panel listed as risk factors those influences that made it more likely that Mr Venables would reoffend in the future. Venables and Thompson had brought blue paint stolen from the shopping mall and splashed it in Bulgers left eye. They went out that day to kill I truly believe that. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". But when Venables was recalled to jail in 2010, it emerged Thompson had done well at Barton Moss secure unit, in Eccles, Lancs, showing a growing interest and talent in art. Given that key areas of risk remained subject to continuing interventions, the panel considered that Mr Venables was appropriately located in custody where outstanding levels of risk could be addressed. The Parole Board refused to recommend Venables for release for at least another two years, according to The Sun newspaper. But by 4:15 p.m., there was no sign of the boy and so he was quickly reported missing to the police. Toddler James Bulger disappeared on February 12 1993. Ten-year-old Robert Thompson, one James Bulgers killers, poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. And even by 2000, top child psychiatrist Sir Michael Rutter claimed the risk posed by Venables on his release was "trivial". Here is what happened to Jon Venables after he was found guilty of murdering James Bulger. With evening approaching, an elderly woman saw Bulger crying, noticed his injuries, and approached the trio to enquire what was wrong. To those who arent familiar, the scene looks harmless enough: Two boys leading a toddler, one holding his hand as they make their way through a normal shopping mall in Bootle, England. All about his family, Was Dave Hollis Sick? March 10, 2021 - 20:29 GMT Eve Crosbie. "Mr Venables had also experienced difficulties relating to employment. Venables, who appeared via a video link that only the judge could see, pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images of children for a second time and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Venables and Thompson were found guilty of Bulger's abduction and murder on November 24, 1993 - makingthem the youngest people to be jailed for murder in 250 years. In their bid to have Venable's identity disclosed, lawyers for Ralph and Jimmy Bulger argued certain details about the killer and his life are "common knowledge" and easily accessible online. Venables was held at the Red Bank secure unit in St. Helens, Merseyside, which was not revealed until after he had been released. At trial in 1993, Thompson was painted as the ringleader, leading Venables on at every turn. Soon after, a woman saw Thompson punch Bulger and shake him. There are currently six infamous Brit criminals whose crimes are so notorious they have been given lifetime anonymity. The older boys ignored him and continued down to a secluded area near a canal. All of the instruments used in the attack were found strewn around the area the iron bar, stones, and bricks all covered in the boys blood. But then Jon Venables and Robert Thompson turned back toward the privacy of the deserted railway. A source told the paper that Venables told the panel and his probation officer he doesn't even want to be freed. A court order that is in place to prevent a person from being identified as Jon Venables or Robert Thompson has been amended, following an application from the Attorney General, Rt Hon. A three-page document also noted Venables had not requested a release from prison or a transfer to an open jail. James was a two-year-old boy from a loving family who lived in Bootle, Merseyside. At first, they announced the boys name over the malls loudspeakers. Nor did the panel recommend to the Secretary of State that Mr Venables should be transferred to open prison. They went out that day to kill I truly believe that. At first, Thompson denied everything. Though not much is known about his current whereabouts, he is reportedly in a stable relationship with a man who is fully aware of his past. He is an arch manipulator and knows how to play the authorities. Sentencing him to 40 months jail in 2018, Mr Justice Edis said: The children depicted were often very young and vulnerable, there is discernible pain and distress suffered.. Ive had urges, inquisitive.Mr. Justice Edis sentenced Venables to 40 months in prison, saying:The children depicted were often very young and vulnerable, there is discernible pain and distress suffered.. Other searches were conducted elsewhere, all leading to nothing. The killer walked free in June 2001 with unprecedented lifelong anonymity after a parole board ruled he was no longer a threat to public safety. In January 2018, James Bulger's mum Denise Fergus backed calls for a public inquiry into the toddler's murder. Venables was still on strict probation following his 2001 release from prison. Some witnesses later remembered seeing Bulger laughing while others remembered seeing him resisting and even screaming for his mother. Today, while Thompson is believed to be assimilating back into society and living a quiet life, the same cannot be said of Venables. Beyond that, I have no further comments to make., Inside Aimee Challenors life, her husband and parents, Inside Kimberly Guilfoyles life, her parents and ex-husbands, Are Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes still dating? The panel listed as risk factors those influencers that made it more likely that Mr. Venables would reoffend in the future,the report read. But in November 2017, Jon Venables was again imprisoned when more child abuse images and a pedophile manual that provided instructions on having sex with kids were discovered on his computer. 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