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Jon Venables has had his bid for freedom from prison rejected

Home> News> Crime

Updated 11:48 13 Dec 2023 GMTPublished 11:05 13 Dec 2023 GMT

breaking

Jon Venables has had his bid for freedom from prison rejected

Jon Venables and Robert Thompson kidnapped and murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993.

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Featured Image Credit: BWP Media via Getty Images

Topics: UK News, Crime

Dominic Smithers
Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is LADbible's Editorial Lead. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

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@SmithersDom

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Jon Venables' request for parole has been rejected, the Parole Board has said.

In February 1993, Venables and Robert Thompson - who were 10-years-old at the time - kidnapped and murdered James Bulger from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside.

Venables and Thompson were later arrested and eventually convicted.

Despite being sentenced to life in prison, in 2001, they were both released on license and given new identities.

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In 2010 and 2017, Venables was convicted again, this time on possession of indecent images of children and was given a 40-month sentence.

Earlier this year, his request for a parole hearing was granted.

James Bulger was just two when he was kidnapped and murdered.
BWP Media via Getty Images

“An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Jon Venables and is scheduled to take place in November 2023," a spokesperson for the parole board said.

“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community."

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The two-day hearing was held behind closed doors as the Parole Board ruled that a public one would cause 'disproportionate emotional stress' for Venables, who is now 41-years-old.

James' family were also not allowed to attend, but victim impact statements were considered.

But a three-page summary of the Parole Board panel’s decision has since rejected the decision to grant Venables parole.

Venables was 10 when he murdered Bulger.
BWP Media via Getty Images

It said: “After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and on licence, and the evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.

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“It noted the risks as set out above, doubted Mr Venables’ ability to be open and honest with professionals, and concluded that there remained a need for him to address outstanding levels of risk, and to develop his relationship with his probation officer.

“By law, Mr Venables will be eligible for another parole review in due course.”

And James' mum, Denise Fergus, welcomed the news that he would remain behind bars, thanking the Parole Board for 'making the correct decision'.

Kym Morris, a spokeswoman for the parent, told the Mirror: "This is the day Denise has waited for years.

"The prospect of him coming out was terrifying as we knew he'd harm again.

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"This is a day we celebrate and we thank the parole board for making the correct decision."

  • Murderer Jon Venables’ parole hearing to be held in secret
  • James Bulger's killer Jon Venables has been granted a two-day parole hearing
  • Documentary shows the moment Jon Venables admitted to killing James Bulger
  • James Bulger's killer Jon Venables could be released from prison within weeks

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