Mother of James Bulger 'fuming' over new jail term for Jon Venables

Published 23rd Nov 2017
Last updated 23rd Nov 2017

The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has revealed her fury at the delay in finding out her son's killer has been jailed again.

Jon Venables was returned to prison again after he was caught with child abuse images for a second time.

Venables, who along with Robert Thompson tortured and killed two-year-old James in Liverpool in 1993, was arrested last week.

In a Facebook post, James's mother, Denise Fergus, said: "I'm absolutely fuming that once again I'm last to know, that this has happened a week ago and I only got informed just hours before it's hit the press.''

Officials are said to have found indecent material on a computer during a routine check at the home of Venables.

The arrest follows an incident in 2010 when he was sent back to prison for downloading and distributing child pornography.

Now 35, Venables is subject to lifelong licence conditions for his role in the murder of James when he and Thompson were just 10 years old.

After serving eight-year sentences for the murder, Venables and Thompson were granted lifelong anonymity that saw them released under new identities in 2001.

Venables went on to offend again, including arrests for affray and possession of cocaine in 2008.

In 2010, he was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to downloading images of child abuse.

Venables, who was reportedly given a second new identity after his first alias was revealed, was granted parole in 2013.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "We do not comment on individuals."