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James Bulger's Mum Reveals How Hearing Voice Of Son's Killer Left Her Feeling 'Sick'

James Bulger's Mum Reveals How Hearing Voice Of Son's Killer Left Her Feeling 'Sick'

James Bulger's mum, Denise Fergus, was in court when Venables was jailed and says he was 'protected at all costs' as he appeared via video

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

The mother of James Bulger has revealed that she felt 'sick to her stomach' when she heard the voice of one of her son's killers, Jon Venables, in court earlier this year.

Denise Fergus was sent a letter telling her there would be a court hearing in February and that Venables would be there in person, charged with possessing images of child abuse and having a 'paedophile's manual'.

But Venables, who killed James Bulger in February 1993, appeared via video link instead and Denise saidit was 'yet another example of the system protecting him at all costs and putting his comfort first'.

Denise described the sickening ordeal when Jon Venables was sent back to jail in the paperback edition of her book, I Let Him Go.

In February, Venables was locked up for more than three years. According to the Mirror, he was warned that even when this term comes to an end he may stay in prison because he is under a lifetime license for the murder of two-year-old James.

This Thursday, the paperback version of Denise's book will be published - with an updated chapter where she discusses events that have taken place recently.

In the chapter 'Fighting On', she recalls receiving a letter telling her there would be a trial and that Venables, who was ten years old when he and Robert Thompson murdered James, would be there in person.

PA

Denise writes: "I couldn't believe it - after 25 years, was I really about to face my son's killer?

"Deep down I knew it wouldn't happen - how could I ever be allowed in the same room as him?"

In the end, Venables spoke via video link, and Denise recalls that 'hearing his voice ringing out around the court made me feel sick to my stomach'.

She continued: "In my opinion, it was yet another example of the system protecting him at all costs and putting his comfort first - of course he didn't want to face me; that didn't mean he shouldn't have to."

Jon Venables.
PA

But Denise says this 'became insignificant' once she learned what Venables had actually done.

At the Old Bailey, Venables, now 35, pleaded guilty to having indecent images of children for a second time. He had been jailed for viewing child abuse images in 2010.

Referred to as 'AB', he pleaded guilty to four counts. He was caught with 1,170 indecent photos of children on his laptop and admitted having 392 category A images, 148 category B and 630 category C pictures. He also pleaded guilty to having a paedophile manual on or before 17 November last year, reports the Mirror.

Sending him back to jail, Judge Mr Justice Edis QC, told Venables: "The point about child pornography is that it involves films and images being made of very serious sexual offences being committed against defenceless children.

Denise Fergus (left) and James Bulger (right).
PA

"It is heartbreaking for any ordinary person to see this kind of material. The consumer of it, you, therefore does two things.

"First, he emerges as a threat to children from real harm caused by his own offences against them.

"A person with a perverted sexual interest in children plainly poses a higher risk than one without.

"Secondly, by being a consumer of this dreadful material he causes others to make it and thereby promotes the commission of very serious and damaging offences by others. These are the reasons why the offence is regarded so seriously."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: james bulger, UK News, News, jon venables, court