Jon Venables to remain in prison after telling Parole Board he is not seeking release

Jon Venables, one of the two boys convicted of the 1993 murder of James Bulger, will remain in prison following a recent review by the Parole Board. During the private hearing, Venables submitted an opening statement indicating that he accepted the necessity of undertaking further work to address his offending behaviour while in custody. Consequently, he informed the panel that he was not seeking release at this time.

The Parole Board panel reviewed a range of professional evidence, including reports from probation officers based both in the prison and in the community, as well as assessments from three psychologists and a psychiatrist. The panel’s findings indicated that all members, with the exception of one, concluded that Venables should remain in prison. The summary of the findings noted concerns regarding how effectively Venables would engage with probation staff if he were released, as well as questions about his openness and honesty during supervision. The committee concluded that ongoing intervention was required within the detention facility to manage his sexual urges.

Background

Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, both aged 10 at the time, abducted two-year-old James Bulger from the Strand shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993. As Denise Fergus, Bulger's mother, settled the bill for meat purchases, the two school-skipping boys escorted the toddler roughly two-and-a-half miles to a rail line, where they struck him until he died. Following a three-week trial at Preston Crown Court, both boys were found guilty of murder, and their names were released to the public after the proceedings.

In June 2001, Venables and Thompson were released on life licence and assigned new identities, with a court injunction preventing the revelation of these identities. Nevertheless, Venables was returned to prison in February 2010 following the detection of child pornography on his computer. He was released again in August 2013, receiving a second new identity, but was called back to prison in November 2017 for the same offence. Parole judges reviewed his case once more in September 2020. In the most recent review, the panel also heard a victim personal statement that described the devastating impact of the crime and Venables’ subsequent offending. Although professionals assessed Venables’ expressed remorse for his original crime as genuine, the panel maintained that further custodial work was required.

Why it matters

The decision to keep Venables in prison highlights the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the management of high-profile offenders released from the justice system. The panel’s concerns focus on the practicalities of supervising Venables in the community, specifically his ability to work openly with probation officers. The inclusion of a victim personal statement in the proceedings underscores the lasting impact of the 1993 murder on the victim’s family and the broader public. The fact that Venables voluntarily stated he was not seeking release adds a distinct dimension to the parole process, as the panel’s decision aligns with his own submission that he requires further time in custody to address his offending behaviour.

What happens next

Venables will continue to serve his sentence in prison. The Parole Board’s summary indicates that he will undertake further work in custody to address his sexual interests. There is no immediate date specified for the next review, but his status remains subject to the standard parole review processes for life licence holders.