Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing
One of the men who tortured and killed James Bulger in 1993 is set to appear before the Parole Board and bid for freedom once more.
Jon Venables, now 43, was just 10 years old when he and Robert Thompson snatched two-year-old James from a shopping centre in Merseyside in one of the most heinous crimes this country has ever seen.
Venables and Thompson walked the toddler to a railway line more than two miles away from the shopping centre, where they beat him to death with bricks and an iron bar, as well as sexually assaulting him, before leaving his body on the railway line, where he was discovered two days later.
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After being found guilty of the killing, they became the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history and were sentenced to the juvenile equivalent of a life sentence, with a recommended minimum term of eight years.
Once the eight years were up, both killers were released at the age of 18 in 2001, under new protected identities; however, they were banned from entering Merseyside, or contacting the Bulger family. They were also forced to report to probation officers.
In 2010, Venables was recalled to prison after indecent images of children were found on his computer, before being released in 2013 under another new identity.
By 2017, he was recalled to prison once again after more child abuse images were found on his computer, as well as a so-called 'paedophile manual'.
He launched a bid to be freed in 2020, but was rejected on the grounds he posed a 'high risk of real harm to children', and was found to have a 'long-term and profound interest in children'.
In 2023, he was denied parole for the second time for the same reasons.
Now, the child killer is set to have a third attempt at freedom as he's set to go before the Parole Board again. While a date is yet to be set, James' mum, Denise Fergus, is said to have been informed about the hearing.
Why can't you share recent photos of Jon Venables
When Venables and Thompson were released from prison, there was an outcry from the public who felt it was unfair that the pair be given a second chance at life when they were handed new identities.
A high court injunction was put in place by Judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss at the time of their release, putting a ban on anyone sharing any details about the pair that could lead to them being identified.
The injunction said 'any depiction, image in any form, photograph, film or voice recording made or taken on or after 18 February 1993, which purports to be of Jon Venables or Robert Thompson or any description which purports to be of their physical appearance, voices or accents at any time since that date' is in breach of the order.
It goes on to say 'any information purporting to identify any person as having formerly been known as the Claimants; or any information purporting to describe the past present or future whereabouts, including alleged residential or work addresses and telephone numbers'.
What happens if you do share images of Jon Venables
If you're caught breaching the injunction in any way, whether that's by sharing photos or other identifiable information, you can be found guilty of contempt of court.
You could face a punishment of up to two years behind bars, as well as an unlimited fine.
One person who learned this the hard way was Shameless actor Tina Malone, who was handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence and a £10,000 fine when she admitted to sharing a photo of Venables online.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
Emma Rosemurgey