WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: The family of James Bulger are in pain following news that Jon Venables’ latest parole hearing has been confirmed as some look back at his past
The relatives of James Bulger are experiencing anguish after learning that Jon Venables is set to have his most recent application for release considered by the Parole Board. Venables, now aged 43, brutally killed two-year-old James in 1993 when he was just 10 years old, alongside fellow child killer Robert Thompson.
Venables was freed on licence in July 2001 but was returned to custody in February 2010 after indecent images of children were discovered on his computer. He was released once more in August 2013 before being recalled in November 2017 for the same offence, with parole officials last reviewing his case in September 2020.
In 2023, the Parole Board turned down Venables’ application, determining he remained a threat to children and might reoffend. However, he has been granted a fresh hearing, which is anticipated to occur next month.
A permanent legal injunction remains in force to safeguard the new identities of Venables and Thompson – referred to as Boy A and Boy B during their trial – due to their age when they committed the killing. Yet some troubling details about Venables’ childhood emerged around the time of the proceedings – including prior acts of violence.
Venables was the middle child of Susan and Neil, and he was regarded as the ‘normal’ one who would flourish in the appropriate “ordinary” school. Compared to the Thomson household, the Venables family enjoyed better circumstances and harboured greater ambitions, reports the Mirror.
Susan and Neil separated in early 1986, though reports suggested they were contemplating reuniting around the period of James’s murder. They recognised their son’s association with Thompson and considered him a negative influence who led him to skip school.
However, Venables was already displaying troublesome conduct at his educational establishment. A contemporary New Yorker report documented one episode where he climbed onto a desk and hurled chairs about; in another instance, he almost strangled a fellow student with a ruler before teachers intervened; in a separate incident, after being removed from class for disruptive behaviour, he suspended himself upside down from a coat hook, resembling a bat.
Some progress had been noted following his school transfer, yet his new headteacher still regarded him as ‘a strange, unusual, and difficult boy’, who lacked coordination, had a squint, and was prone to playground altercations.
A family friend of the Venables ultimately provided the breakthrough in the investigation. James’s remains were discovered on Sunday afternoon, 48 hours following his disappearance.
He had been undressed from the waist down, paint had been hurled into his eyes and he had been battered to death with bricks and a metal bar. On Wednesday evening, the police, having already questioned fifty local boys, received a tip-off from a neighbour.
The caller, having heard from Venables’ mother that he had played truant on Friday and believing she recognised him from CCTV footage, contacted the authorities. Both boys were apprehended by the police early the following morning.
Venables – referred to as Child B – confessed to the murder of two-year-old James Bulger during a police interview in February 1993, shortly after his arrest for the crime. In audio recordings from the 1993 interrogation, a tearful Venables, then aged 10, can be heard admitting to officers, “That I killed James. I did it.”
Following a three-week trial at Preston Crown Court, on November 24, 1993, Venables and Thompson were convicted of James’ murder after five hours of jury deliberation. Venables wept openly in court, resting his head on the shoulder of the social worker beside him.
He frequently glanced towards his parents, who looked visibly distraught.
The Guardian reported at the time that as the guilty verdict was announced, Thompson remained impassive while Venables sobbed inconsolably. Thompson’s mother Anne had been in court earlier in the morning but was not there to hear the verdict or sentence.
“Thompson, who removed his tie and opened his shirt neck, began to show his first sign of remorse. As he waited for sentence the podgy boy’s face was blotched with tears and his eyes were red and raw. Venables was passed a tissue by his mother who asked him if he was all right. His counsel, Richard Isaacson, grabbed his arm and said: “Come on now, be brave.” Each boy stole a glance at the other and met the same look of disbelief.
“The sobs became louder as they were told by the judge that the killing of James Bulger was an act of unparalleled evil and brutality. Both boys were in hysterical tears when they heard they would be put away for “very, very many years”. On the way down to the cells, Venables asked his solicitor: “Would you please tell them I’m sorry.”
In June 2001, Thompson and Venables were released on life licence and handed new identities protected by a court injunction ordering lifetime anonymity. In February 2010, Venables was recalled to prison after indecent images of children were found on his computer and he breached his parole conditions by visiting Merseyside.
In August 2013 he was released again with a second new identity, but in November 2017 he was recalled again and in February 2018 he was jailed for three years and four months for possessing child abuse images. In 2019 James Bulger’s father, Ralph Bulger, lost a legal challenge for Venables’ new identity to be made public.
Venables had an application to be freed rejected in 2020 following an assessment of his case and in December 2023 a parole officer ruled not to release him because he continued to pose a danger to children and could go on to offend again.
Robert Thompson, unlike Jon Venables, is not known to have reoffended since his release.
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
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