But Denise Fergus, James's mum, does not support the proceedings and said her son's killer should keep his anonymity to avoid vigilante justice. Despite positive behaviour and landing a job in jail, Parole officials ruled Venables was still not safe to be released. Most recently, Venables was denied parole in September 2020. Ralph and James's uncle Jimmy had launched a bid to have Venables' anonymity removed, arguing certain details about him were "common knowledge" and easily accessible online. WikimediaJames Bulger killers Jon Venables (holding the boys hand) and Robert Thompson (walking directly in front of the boy) abduct their victim just before killing him, as captured by a surveillance camera. During his hearing, the court heard that upon his arrest he told cops in the police car: "This is my own fault. "Mr Venables had also experienced difficulties relating to employment. The. That was the biggest mistake of my life. He had passed five GCSEs, taken A-levels and enjoyed trips to the Lake District and even to the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Lifelong anonymity is put in place by courts rarely and is usually in only the most infamous and horrific cases. Soon after, a woman saw Thompson punch Bulger and shake him. Malcolm Croft PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images. They first attempted to lure a three-year-old girl and her two-year-old brother away from their mother. 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. [B]ut, in the end, he shot himself in the foot by giving me a detailed account of what James Bulger was wearing. Nevertheless, throughout the whole process, Thompson remained chillingly unfazed, earning him the nickname the boy who did not cry from the press. On one occasion, his probation officer made a home visit and saw that Venables was busy trying to destroy a hard drive from his computer. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. New Zealand's immigration department had not received any applications from Venables, she told media. Venables has now been caged for 40 months foradmitting having a paedo manual explaining "how to have sex with little girls" as well as over 1,000 vile child abuse images. Venables was released in 2001 and soon found himself running afoul of the law. 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. At trial in 1993, Thompson was painted as the ringleader, leading Venables on at every turn. The report stated: "Mr Venables was engaging positively in intensive interventions and these were likely to continue for several months, requiring a period of consolidation on completion.". Though nearly three decades have passed, the story of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables remains shocking to this day. DetectivePhil Roberts was on Merseysides serious crime squad when he got a call at 6am on February 13, 1993, about a two-year-old boy who had gone missing from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle. Over 20 years later, he has remained off the radar of authorities and has continued to live under his assumed identity. Mary Bell, the 11-year-old who killed toddlers and got off light. They went out that day to kill I truly believe that. Authorities considered Thompson to be the ringleader in the murder that he and Venables committed. But when she looked down, he was gone. 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.". In 2008, The Netline reports that Venables was arrested following a bar fight at a local pub. In November 2020, a source speaking toThe Sunconfirmed that Jon had asked the parole board not to approve his release. 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. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. He was sent back to prison with a new identity as hed divulged who he was to staff and inmates. Where Are Child Murderers Robert Thompson And Jon Venables Today. Finally, discover the story of Mary Bell, the 11-year-old who killed toddlers and got off light. Though Venables father was still in the picture, his mother was known to be harsh toward the young boy. What befell James Bulger? He was jailed for two years. This caused various children to be identified as potential killers, with some parents even reporting their own kids. June 24, 2011. But they werent. 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 . What about his mum, will you tell her Im sorry?. Malcolm Croft/PA Images/Getty ImagesJames Bulgers parents, pictured one day before their child was found dead. Speaking at the time, he said: "(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. She was concerned, but another woman standing nearby said shed heard James laughing moments ago and so both assumed nothing was wrong. Thompson has been revealed to be in a relationship with a man who is said to know his true identity. Venables, however, is in prison after being convicted twice of child pornography offences. On February 12, 1993, he was tragically murdered by two 10-year-old boys, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables. James Bulgers father Ralph Bulger thinks that if Venables were to be released now, he would be at risk of killing again. By now, however, his forehead was bruised and cut, causing Venables and Thompson to pull the hood of the toddlers anorak over his head to try and hide the injury. Was Abraham Lincoln Our First Gay President? As required by law, he will be eligible for another parole review in due course.. First, of course, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson had to snatch Bulger away from his mother in the midst of a busy shopping mall. In October 2020, a parole report stated that Venables was attracted to sexual violence and recommended that he remain in prison. And in 2018, he was sentenced to 40 months after admitting to possessing more than 1,000 child abuse images and the pedophile manual. Since being freed, Venables alone is thought to have cost the public around 5million. His identity is protected by a worldwide injunction - meaning that even trying to find out where he lives could land you in jail. Dr. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". ", 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.". Some witnesses later remembered seeing Bulger laughing while others remembered seeing him resisting and even screaming for his mother. Under current legislation, child suspects are granted automatic anonymity in the youth courts and are routinely granted the same if they appear at crown court aside from exceptional circumstances. Venables was first imprisoned for possessing images of child abuse in 2010, but he was released in 2013. ", The report said Venables was benefitting from ongoing psychological work in prison and had taken part in programmes to address decision making, better ways of thinking and a propensity for sexual offending.. I have let people down again. Now 38, It is believed that he is still. Where is Robert Thompson now? Venables was given a SECOND new identity following his release from prison in 2013. But most did nothing and those that stopped and questioned the James Bulger killers soon enough let them go on their way to ultimately murder the toddler. "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). He was just ten years old when he abducted two-year-old James Bulger from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, with his friend Robert Thompson. "My decision is in no way a reflection on the applicants themselves, for whom there is a profoundest sympathy," he said. All about his family, Was Dave Hollis Sick? Where Are Robert Thompson And Jon Venables Now? 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. 721 Smith Rd. In addition, they thought that the kidnappers mightve been 13 or 14 years old, which threw them off track. However, the psychiatrists were not able to find a motive for this horrific crime. 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. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. He is an arch manipulator and knows how to play the authorities. In 2013, the parole approved his release from prison. 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. And even by 2000, top child psychiatrist Sir Michael Rutter claimed the risk posed by Venables on his release was "trivial". But with no further offenses, Thompson might be a great example of how a child who commits a horrific act of violence can be rehabilitated and live a productive life after being incarcerated. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. How can anyone say this monster is safe to live among us ever again?. February 13, 1993. On the outside, he finds it difficult to make friends or gain employment and he seeks out drink, sex and pornography as a way of adding excitement to his life and thats a potent mix.. By this time, Denise was panicking. Then, read up on the most horrific child murderers. The report noted he had displayed "positive behaviour" since being locked up, but felt a "lack of fulfilment in life" and had a "need for excitement". James Bulger's father calls for Jon Venables's anonymity to be lifted, A police handout photo of Robert Thompson from 1993, James Bulger, two, was abducted from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, Ralph Bulger is the father of murdered James, Venables (pictured as a child) was sent to prison over possession of child abuse imagery, A video still of James Bulger being led away in 1993, John Venables, pictured after his arrest in February 1993. The 36-year-old has not re-offended since being released on licence when he was 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. However, Venables was recalled to prison in November 2017 when he was caught with the sickening child abuse images once again. They were remanded to separate maximum security juvenile institutions under aliases, out of fear for their safety. Not long after the bar fight, he was found to be in possession of cocaine. On March 4, 2019, it was announced Thompson's accomplice Jon Venables is to keep his anonymity after a judge ruled it would protect him from "serious violence". in 2010, He was jailed again for downloading a collection of child porn on his PC and got out in 2013. in 2017, He downloaded more child porn and was jailed again and got out of jail in 2020. He was 10 years old. Though they were known to be rule-breakers, they mostly dabbled in low-level criminal activity, like stealing small items from stores and throwing them down mall escalators. Its just a big knot in your chest and thats been there since day one.. 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. His mysterious death. And so Bulger slipped away from safety once again. His body would be found two days later by a group of horrified teenage boys who were playing in the area. The report concluded: After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made whilst in custody and on licence, as well as the other evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that Mr Venables was suitable for re-release. It wont be a slap on the wrist for me.. They walked down one of Liverpools busiest streets. Not only had both boys been truant that day, but Venables had also been seen with blue paint on his jacket (the same color that had been used to blind Bulger during his torture). 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. A freak of nature. Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? 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. The Mirrorreports that authorities considered relocating Jon to Canada, Australia, or New Zealand to reduce the cost of keeping him in the UK. 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. Authorities gave Robert and Jon new identities and released them into society under strict supervision. The Netline reports that Thompson has fully integrated into society and has "built a healthy relationship" inside the community in which he lives. 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.. It added that Jon had stated that hed benefited from psychological work in prison and didnt ask the panel for release. They went out that day to kill I truly believe that. Robert Thompson, on the other hand, was not such an easy interview. 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. In November 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables became the youngest convicted murderers in British history. Three months later, he got off with a warning after police caught him in possession of a small amount of cocaine. Robert Thompson had a tough childhood and there were allegations of . During their November 1993 trial, the world was equally shocked and outraged that two young boys could have the capacity to viciously murder a toddler. While the abduction of James Bulger was caught on camera, police had few leads for potential suspects. Other searches were conducted elsewhere, all leading to nothing. 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. Venables, Thompson, and Bulger then walked into two different stores where they interacted with both shopkeepers who, though suspicious of the older boys, let them go. With little to go on, Bulgers parents were suspects initially. After momentarily becoming distracted, Bulger's mother noticed that he was nowhere to be seen. Some witnesses later reported that the older boys roughed up Bulger in plain sight, kicking, punching, and shaking him. James Bulger was not the first child that the pair tried to abduct. James Bulger's grieving father Ralph lost a High Court bid to have information about Venables made public. 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