Jailed Man Blames Offending On Finding James Bulger's Body As A Teenager

A man who found the body of murdered James Bulger when he was just a child has been sent to jail for money laundering.

Thirty-eight-year-old Terence Riley was just 13 when he and his brother found the toddler's body on a railway track in 1993, the Liverpool Echo reports.

His conviction this week for money laundering isn't his first - Riley was sentenced to 12 years in jail in 2009 for his part in a £4 million ($5.5m) drug dealing scheme. He was also jailed for dangerous driving last year. His lawyers have argued that Riley suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of finding the body.

Appearing in court this week, Riley pled guilty to money laundering after he was searched by police and found to have 'significant amounts of cash' on him. Prosecutor Chris Taylor told the court that officers then searched Riley's home and found more money, a Rolex and keys to an expensive car. In total police seized cash and property worth just over £50,000 ($69,000).

The cash taken by police will be used to pay a £30,000 ($41,000) debt Riley has dating back from 2010, when a court ordered him to pay back drug dealing profits.

Defending Riley at Liverpool Crown Court, Claire Brocklebank said her client "suffers from post traumatic stress disorder as he was one of the young boys when he was 13 who was involved in the discovery of the body of young James Bulger."

Adding: "This has of course stuck with him and he is currently engaging with mental health authorities for his PTSD."

She said that Riley, who is currently already serving time in prison after being recalled last year, is making good progress.

She also told the court that Riley is father to two young children - with the youngest being just one. "The youngest was born weeks before he was last taken into custody," she said. "He is anxious to grow up and provide for his children."

Judge Norman Wright sentenced him to 16 months, telling Riley that he hopes when he's released he will be turning his back on crime.

Source: The Liverpool Echo

Featured Image Credit: Merseyside Police

Topics: james bulger, UK News, Jail

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19