Sep 21, 20232 min read

James Bulger killer Jon Venables to be given parole hearing

Venables was released on licence in 2001 after serving his sentence for the 1993 killing of James Bulger, but has twice been returned to prison for possessing indecent images of children.

One of James Bulger's killers, Jon Venables, has been granted a two-day parole hearing. The hearing will take place on 14 and 15 November, the Parole Board has confirmed.

Venables and Robert Thompson were 10 when they killed two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, having snatched him from #Bootle Strand Shopping Centre in Sefton.

The killers were given life sentences for the murder, but were released on licence with new identities in 2001.

Venables, now 40, was sent back to prison in 2010, and again in 2017, for possessing indecent images of children.

He was scheduled to have his release reviewed by a parole panel in October 2022 following his 40-month sentence, but the hearing was postponed.

A Parole Board spokesperson confirmed a hearing would take place next month.

The spokesperson said the panel would "carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change".

"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," the spokesperson said.

"Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing."

"Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.

"The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing, which often lasts a full day or more."

The spokesperson added: "Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."

This year marks 30 years since James Bulger was taken on that horrific day in 1993.

Jame's mum, Denise Fergus has updated her book to mark the 30 years.