Jon Venables pictured in 1993
Jon Venables pictured in 1993

Jon Venables, one of the schoolboy killers of toddler James Bulger, is to be released from jail, the Parole Board has confirmed.

Venables was jailed in 2010 after admitting downloading child pornography while on parole from his life sentence for killing two-year-old James.

Venables and Robert Thompson killed the toddler in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993. Both were given new identities after they were released from prison.

Earlier this year, James' parents, Denise Fergus and Ralph Bulger, attended Venables' parole hearing and demanded that he remained in prison.

They said they were dismayed by the Parole Board decision.

Their solicitor, Robin Makin, said: "In 2011 the Parole Board determined that it was not safe for Jon Venables to be released. It is not known what has changed. No reasons for the decision have been given.

"For Ralph and his family the living nightmare continues and is exacerbated by the problems now created by the reckless decision to free Jon Venables without any publicly disclosed safeguards.

"Jon Venables is a sex offender who has murdered once and made it clear when posing as the mother of a child that an 'ultimate thrill' for him was the sexual abuse of a child.

"The authorities have already experimented with Jon Venables living a lie and it did not work."

Fergus tweeted after hearing the news: "Just don't believe what I've got 2 go through. AGAIN."

Made the wrong decision

Speaking from her home in Kirkby, Merseyside, she added: "I have not been told what conditions they are going to impose and even whether he will still be banned from entering Merseyside.

"I've been fighting for justice for James for 20 years and I will continue to do so. The Parole Board have made the wrong decision.

"Venables has shown time and again that he cannot be trusted and that he is a danger to the public and himself.

"He lies and manipulates people for his own sick ends. He is still a huge risk and they should not let him out after just three years."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice added: "The re-release of life-licensed offenders is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied [the offender] can be safely managed in the community.

"Their life licence lasts for the rest of their lives, and they may be recalled to prison at any time for breaching licence conditions.

"Additionally, they will be subject to strict controls and restrictions for as long as their risk requires them."