Venables has now been caged for 40 months foradmitting having a paedo manual explaining "how to have sex with little girls" as well as over 1,000 vile child abuse images. My advice would be dont bother applying,she said. As of this writing, Venables is still incarcerated. In their bid to have Venable's identity disclosed, lawyers for Ralph and Jimmy Bulger argued certain details about the killer and his life are "common knowledge" and easily accessible online. Instead, they were the toddlers abductors and, soon, his killers. After learning about Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, read about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Thus it was widely assumed that Thompson was the instigator even though psychiatrists and authorities have never been able to reach a conclusion on the boys motives. But one bystander provided a glimmer of hope however fleeting for James Bulger. In the wake of removing the baby from a mall in Bootle, Merseyside, two 10-year-old young men grabbed and killed him in 1993. tvguidetime.com The paint was showered in his eyes, blocks were flung at him, he was kicked, and batteries were embedded in his mouth. Jon Venables New Identity Leaked Police were focused on other children who already had violent records, and they remained convinced that the two boys from the fuzzy CCTV footage looked 13 or 14, not 10. We pay for your stories! Eventually, Venables and Thompson placed Bulgers dead body (a forensic pathologist later concluded that he was dead at this point) across the train tracks, in hopes of making the whole thing look like an accident, and abandoned the scene before a train came along and severed the toddler in two. The ex-convict has kept his bargain of the clause of his release. Venables claimed he was acting in self-defence and the charges were dropped after he agreed to go on an alcohol-awareness course. Speaking at the time, he said: "(Venables) is 'uniquely notorious' and there is a strong possibility, if not a probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences. His mysterious death. Many of them would later express regret for not doing anything. She was also bothered by the fact that Thompson would cry, but there wouldn't be any tears. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . AT just ten years old, Jon Venables callously abducted and murdered James Bulger, 2, in 1993 in a case that sent shockwaves through the UK and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, after Venables, Thompson, and Bulger had left the mall, the toddler began crying out for his mother. A 2015 interview with James Bulgers mother. Thompson was the fifth of seven children, born on August 23, 1982, in Liverpool, England. Thompson has been revealed to be in a relationship with a man who is said to know his true identity. Robert Thompson (on the left) and Jon Venables (both born in August, 1982, ) are two felons, known in British history as the youngest convicted criminals at . Both boys were ordered to be imprisoned until review when they turned 18. A source told the paper that Venables told the panel and his probation officer he doesn't even want to be freed. When Bulgers father, Ralph, saw that it was just two boys with whom his son had left the mall, he was relieved: I looked at Denise and smiled with relief. Some witnesses later reported that the older boys roughed up Bulger in plain sight, kicking, punching, and shaking him. To those who arent familiar, the scene looks harmless enough: Two boys leading a toddler, one holding his hand as they make their way through a normal shopping mall in Bootle, England. Venables and Thompson were then sentenced to serve at Her Majestys pleasure, as is standard protocol for juvenile offenders convicted of murder or manslaughter. Ten-year-old Robert Thompson, one James Bulgers killers, poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. The child killer was released from a. With little to go on, Bulgers parents were suspects initially. He is a dangerous, predatory child abuser and killer, and I am terrified he will harm another child like my James,Ralph said. What befell James Bulger? Hes gonna be all right, Denise, I said. Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, pictured after their arrest for the murder of James Bulger. He lives in a community in the North West. With Bulgers mother, Denise, momentarily distracted, they got the toddler to come with them. Robert and Jon would sexually abuse, assault, and murder Bulger before dumping his body. Venables and Thompson were found guilty of Bulger's abduction and murder on November 24, 1993 - makingthem the youngest people to be jailed for murder in 250 years. The woman began calling for her son and ran outside, where she found Venables and Thompson beckoning the boy to follow them. Venables and Thompson were tried in an adult courtroom by a jury. Jon Venables was born on August 13, 1982. Where is Robert Thompson now? ONE of James Bulger's killers says he has had a better life as a result of murdering the toddler. View our online Press Pack. Venables and Thompson then called for Bulger to come. James Bulgers, Ralph, father petitioned to have information about Jon Venables publicized. I shouldnt have let go of his hand, Fergus later said. Its not surprising that he may have revealed his true identity, given the enormity of what hes done and the difficulty of coming to terms with that and a new identity,Harry said. Venables soon blurted out, I did kill him. As for Venables, he was also born in Liverpool, and just a few days before Thompson, on August 13, 1982. Venables was still on strict probation following his 2001 release from prison. Robert Thompson was released in 2010. At first, Thompson denied everything. In 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables abducted, tortured and murdered the toddler after leading him away from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside. Finally, they hit Bulger over the head with a 22-pound iron bar. The body of two-year-old James Bulger was discovered near a set of railroad tracks in Liverpool, England on a cold February day in 1993. The child murderers were sent to a. Nor did the panel recommend to the Secretary of State that Mr Venables should be transferred to open prison. Clickhereto upload yours. His body had been severed in two by a train. They were caught by a surveillance camera leaving the mall at 3:42 PM. Three months later, he got off with a warning after police caught him in possession of a small amount of cocaine. Robert Thompson was born on August 23, 1982 - the fifth of seven children. With evening approaching, an elderly woman saw Bulger crying, noticed his injuries, and approached the trio to enquire what was wrong. The panel listed as risk factors those influencers that made it more likely that Mr. Venables would reoffend in the future,the report read. In 2006, reports claimed Thompson was in a stable gay relationship at age 23 and had settled well into his local community in the North West. The killer was 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, which is. She was concerned, but another woman standing nearby said shed heard James laughing moments ago and so both assumed nothing was wrong. Though authorities initially thought Bulger had been abducted by an adult, CCTV footage revealed the shocking truth that he had been taken by two kids. February 13, 1993. Authorities considered Thompson to be the ringleader in the murder that he and Venables committed. The murder of two-year-old James Bulger shocked Britain. They went out that day to kill I truly believe that. "I have had urges, inquisitive. [Robert Thompson and Jon Venables] now 18, were sent to secure units in November 1993, after they were found guilty of abducting two-year old James Bulger and beating him to death, the Home Office has announced today that they will be freed after serving less than nine years of their sentence. Jon Venables was responsible for a sickening crime that horrified the nation. Just a couple of days later, Bulger was found on the same railway track where his killers had left him. James Bulgers father Ralph said he could rest easy as one of his sons killers was refused parole, but feared he would re-offend if he was ever released. "Mr Venables had also experienced difficulties relating to employment. His health struggles detailed, Martina McClures story: Her injury and recovery, How did Simon Dunn die? On the anniversary of James' death, he was pictured visiting James's . James Bulger's father calls for Jon Venables's anonymity to be lifted, A police handout photo of Robert Thompson from 1993, James Bulger, two, was abducted from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, Ralph Bulger is the father of murdered James, Venables (pictured as a child) was sent to prison over possession of child abuse imagery, A video still of James Bulger being led away in 1993, John Venables, pictured after his arrest in February 1993. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 3 The 36-year-old has not re-offended since being released on licence when he was 18 years old. And even by 2000, top child psychiatrist Sir Michael Rutter claimed the risk posed by Venables on his release was "trivial". Closed-circuit camera footage revealed that a child fitting Bulger's description was led away from the shopping center by two young boys. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Robert Thompson and Venables became Britain's youngest killers for 250 years, James Bulger was snatched from his mum in a shopping mall in Merseyside, Denise Fergus shows previously unseen family photos of her murdered two-year-old son for a new documentary 'James Bulger: A Mother's Story with Trevor McDonald'. February 17, 2022 0 In the wake of baiting the baby away from a retail plaza in Bootle, Merseyside, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables seized, tortured, and killed him in 1993. Then, dive into the maddening mystery behind the Atlanta Child Murders. BWP Media/Getty Images Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, pictured after their arrest for the murder of James Bulger. Children are seen by society as innocent and pure, without malice. March 10, 2021 - 20:29 GMT Eve Crosbie. Lifelong anonymity is put in place by courts rarely and is usually in only the most infamous and horrific cases. By now, however, his forehead was bruised and cut, causing Venables and Thompson to pull the hood of the toddlers anorak over his head to try and hide the injury. On March 4, 2019, it was announced Venables is to keep his anonymity after a judge ruled it would protect him from "serious violence". So the authorities secretly visited Robert Thompson who lived in Walton, not far from the murder scene with his mother and 2 younger brothers. I have let people down again. A two-year-old James Bulger was kidnapped and killed by the ten-year-old Robert Thompson and his partner Jon Venables. Robert had no father figure as his dad abandoned the family five years before the murder. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. Though Thompson tried very hard not to incriminate himself while he was speaking to the interrogators, he failed when he gave a detailed account of what James Bulger had been wearing on the day he was killed. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". This is one of the saddest and most devastating stories I have ever heard. They were a match made in hell. Meanwhile, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables led the toddler far away from the mall and toward another town. Then, read up on the most horrific child murderers. In July 2010, Venables appeared at the Old Bailey via video link which was only visible to the judge. By this time, Denise was panicking. This time, he also had a pedophile manual.This is my own fault,he allegedly told police. Meanwhile, court-appointed psychiatrists said that both Thompson and Venables knew the difference between right and wrong. Both Robert Thompson and Jon Venables had rough early years. Like Thompson, Venables parents were separated. All about his family, Was Dave Hollis Sick? But according to some sources, Venables does not want to be freed, in part over fears hell re-offend and in part over his inability to avoid drugs. The police then visited both childrens homes and discovered blood on Thompsons shoes and blue paint on Venables jacket. They were released on lifelong licence in 2001, but Venables was . On November 24, 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were found guilty of the abduction and murder of James Bulger, making them the youngest convicted killers in modern British history. Venables, who appeared via a video link that only the judge could see, pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images of children for a second time and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Harry Fletcher, a probation officers union official, talked toIndependentabout Jons difficulty with keeping his identity secret. Jon Venables was 10 when he and Robert Thompson killed James Bulger The post was shared 627 times. Under current legislation, child suspects are granted automatic anonymity in the youth courts and are routinely granted the same if they appear at crown court aside from exceptional circumstances. Daniel Rennie is a freelance writer residing in Melbourne, Australia. Robert hasn't reoffended. After momentarily becoming distracted, Bulger's mother noticed that he was nowhere to be seen. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. But the President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane rejected the bid, saying it was in place to protect Venables from being "put to death". We pay for videos too. Thompson hasnt reoffended per the terms of his release, but authorities believe he masterminded the plan that led to James Bulgers death. February 13, 1993. Later that night, one of the women saw the news that Bulger was missing. Before long, an anonymous caller reported to the police that Thompson and Venables were behind the murder, revealing that both boys had been absent from school on the day of Bulgers disappearance and that there may have been some criminal evidence on Venables jacket. 7 Oct 2021; Updated 13:36, 7 . Venables was held at the Red Bank secure unit in St. Helens, Merseyside, which was not revealed until after he had been released. Denise Fergus and her then-husband Ralph Bulger were worried sick. All in all, Bulger sustained 42 injuries to his face, head, and body. Soon after, a woman saw Thompson punch Bulger and shake him. But it didnt take long for Venables to confess. Menu. She turned to drink and fell into depression, as well as allegedly trying to take her own life with an overdose. She quickly found mall security personnel and described her son and what he was wearing. This indefinite sentence has no maximum but does have a minimum to be determined on a case-by-case basis. But on that fateful day, the two boys would take their crimes to a horrific new level by kidnapping and killing a child. Another suspect, Jon Venables was also taken into custody. Despite positive behaviour and landing a job in jail, Parole officials ruled Venables was still not safe to be released. ROBERT Thompson abducted and tortured to death two-year-old James Bulger alongside his partner in crime Jon Venables when they were just ten years old. Mr Bulger said: Ive always believed Venables will kill another child again if he is allowed back into the community. "My decision is in no way a reflection on the applicants themselves, for whom there is a profoundest sympathy," he said. Adult criminals have also been given new identities over fears of a vigilante attack. PA Images/Getty ImagesThe Liverpool railway embankment where James Bulgers body was found. What befell James Bulger? His mother treated her depression with heavy drinking and once tried to commit suicide. Channel 5 is set to air a new two-part documentary that tells the definitive story of the murder of James Bulger, who was horrifically killed by Jon . These include his "level of intelligence, making constructive use of his time, a capacity and motivation for self-reflection, and a supportive social network in the community". But once a child turns 18, their name can be reported. But she pulled her curtains and blocked out the scene. On February 12, 1993, he was tragically murdered by two 10-year-old boys, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables. But he found himself back in a maximum category A jail, which we cannot identify for legal reasons,after being caught with vile child abuse images following a top-secret police operation. ", The report said Venables was benefitting from ongoing psychological work in prison and had taken part in programmes to address decision making, better ways of thinking and a propensity for sexual offending.. He was sent back to prison with a new identity as hed divulged who he was to staff and inmates. "Perhaps the parole board have finally seen through his lies and deceit. "My decision is in no way a reflection on the applicants themselves, for whom there is a profoundest sympathy," he said. Youve got enormous burdens to carry around.. One person even saw Thompson kick Bulger in the ribs for resisting. Robert Thompson and Jon Venables The public was already outraged as the police were still not able to catch the killers. Finally, the boys hit Bulger over the head with a 22-pound iron bar, which resulted in 10 skull fractures. By all accounts, Venables and Thompson showed no violent or aberrant behavior in prison but instead served their time for the James Bulger murder quietly and without incident. Here is what we know about the child killer and who was released from a young offenders' institution under licence in 2001. However, Denise Fergus, James Bulgers mother, concurred with the judges ruling. Over 20 years later, he has remained off the radar of authorities and has continued to live under his assumed identity. BWP Media via Getty ImagesJames Bulger at age two. James Bulgers father Ralph Bulger (pictured) is fighting to keep Jon Venables in prison for life. Jon Venables was just 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson abducted and murdered James Bulger alongside - and now he is back behind bars after being caught with horrific child abuse images. Having a partner thats comfortable with his identity must have helped a lot. He was just ten years old when he abducted two-year-old James Bulger from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, with his friend Robert Thompson. Then they arrived at the railway. He was 10 years old. So, when the eight years were up in 2001, both boys were released. They then bludgeoned him with bricks and stones, kicked his battered body, and shoved batteries into his mouth. But no one did anything. At trial in 1993, Thompson was painted as the ringleader, leading Venables on at every turn. DetectivePhil Roberts was on Merseysides serious crime squad when he got a call at 6am on February 13, 1993, about a two-year-old boy who had gone missing from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle. He and his second wife Natalie McDermott, welcomed a baby girl in 2014. Venables was given another new identity after a "serious security breach" which could not be reported for legal reasons. In his confession, Jon stated that it was Roberts idea that they kill Bulger. Not only had both boys been truant that day, but Venables had also been seen with blue paint on his jacket (the same color that had been used to blind Bulger during his torture). Though both boys had killed Bulger, Roberts believed that Thompson was in charge. And Roberts wasnt the only one. A woman would recognize one of the suspects, 10-year-old Jon Venables. The source said: Venables told the board he did not seek release because hes worried that hell reoffend. And if they hadnt been caught I fear they would have struck again.. Both boys were soon arrested, and it didnt take long for them to turn on each other. But sometimes the unthinkable happens - children kill. Moments later, her three-year-old daughter and two-year-old son were missing. The murder captivated the nation as people wondered what would motivate two 10-year-olds to abduct and murder a defenseless toddler. At the mall, James Bulger killers wandered from shop to shop, stealing anything they could get their hands on, then tossing their stolen booty down escalators just for the fun of it. A woman passing by noticed Bulger but did nothing. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". Robert and Jon would sexually abuse, assault, and murder Bulger before dumping his body. "Risk factors identified in subsequent reviews include thinking about sex a lot, problems in maintaining relationships, concerns about self-awareness, and his ability to deal with stress. BWP Media via Getty ImagesTen-year-old Jon Venables poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. In 2008, Jon Venables was given a formal warning for a drunken fight & was also arrested for a cocaine offence. He said: "I don't know how he was doing at school, but he was switched on and he was trying to con me, trying very hard". And if they hadnt been caught I fear they would have struck again. She was also accused of being a loose woman who was often seen with several different men. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Robert Thompson and Venables became Britain's youngest killers for 250 years, James Bulger was snatched from his mum in a shopping mall in Merseyside, Denise Fergus shows previously unseen family photos of her murdered two-year-old son for a new documentary 'James Bulger: A Mother's Story with Trevor McDonald', Greece train crash: Inside 10 seconds of terror after worst ever head-on smash sparks derailment blaze leaving 38 dead, Man, 43, died after being held down by security guards at Sainsbury's, Woman, 37, found dead in posh flat near racecourse as man charged with murder, Full list of school closures today as tens of thousands of teachers walk out how to check latest advice for parents, has now been caged for 40 months foradmitting having a paedo manual explaining "how to have sex with little girls", Venables is to keep his anonymity after a judge ruled it would protect him from "serious violence", Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). He added: "As Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss held, (Venables) is 'uniquely notorious' and there is a strong possibility, if not a probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences. On the outside, he finds it difficult to make friends or gain employment and he seeks out drink, sex and pornography as a way of adding excitement to his life and thats a potent mix.. They were remanded to separate maximum security juvenile institutions under aliases, out of fear for their safety. James Bulgers father, Ralph, stands outside Liverpool Crown Court after making a statement to the parole board in hopes of keeping Jon Venables behind bars. Robert Thompson, on the other hand, was not such an easy interview. In November 2020, a source speaking toThe Sunconfirmed that Jon had asked the parole board not to approve his release. Robert Thompson, now 36, said he is a "better person" thanks to his years in prison but. After bringing in Thompson and Jon Venables for questioning, Phil said: As far as Im concerned that day 20 years ago I stared evil in the face. More than 25 years later, the surveillance image above remains etched in the minds of the millions familiar with the James Bulger case. After serving three years, he was released on parole. They then led him to an area called Walton in Liverpool, where they tortured him, beat him to death, and abandoned his body on a railway track in an effort to make his murder look like an accident. Who suggested it is unclear; later, after they were arrested, each blamed the other. Shed objected to Ralphs petition, saying: I understand the motivation for the application, but my concern is that if Venables were known by his own name, it could lead to vigilante action and innocent people being hurt. Within hours of that surveillance image being captured on the afternoon of February 12, 1993, 10-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson had tortured two-year-old James Bulger to death. What about his mum, will you tell her Im sorry?. In rejecting Ralphs petition, Judge Sir Andrew McFarlane argued that releasing Jons information would endanger his life. Not only did they find blue paint on Venables jacket, but they also found blood on Thompsons shoes. The report stated: "Mr Venables was engaging positively in intensive interventions and these were likely to continue for several months, requiring a period of consolidation on completion.". Their young age, coupled with the brutality of their crime, shocked the United Kingdom to its core. The killer was 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, which is the focus of tonight's new Channel 5 documentary Lost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger. The child killer was released from a young offenders institution under licence in 2001 and has not re-offended since. The Netline reports that Thompson has fully integrated into society and has "built a healthy relationship" inside the community in which he lives. His father had abandoned the family early on, causing his depressed mother to turn to alcohol and even attempt suicide. She had thought that her son was by her side as she was placing her order at the butcher shop. Ever since James was murdered so horrifically, the courts have bent over backwards to look after both Venables and Thompson. After luring the toddler away from a shopping center in Bootle, Merseyside, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables kidnapped, tormented, and murdered him in 1993. Frantically she asked her daughter where he was. As the jury foreman read the verdict, Venables and Thompson were sitting in an adult court dock that had been altered so that the boys could see over it. This left her with the impression that he was faking remorse. But it was ultimately an anonymous phone call to the police that implicated Jon Venables and Robert Thompson as the James Bulger killers. Its just a big knot in your chest and thats been there since day one.. But when the police eventually saw the CCTV footage from the shopping mall, they could not believe their eyes. The older boys then meandered around Liverpool past shops, buildings, and parking lots. And still he followed. But in November 2017, Jon Venables was again imprisoned when more child abuse images and a pedophile manual that provided instructions on having sex with kids were discovered on his computer. The child killer was released from a young offenders' institution under licence in 2001 and has not re-offended since. An official Parole Board summary explained why Venables, who was said to use "sex and pornography as a means of coping", was not deemed safe to be released from jail. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Four years later, Venables returned to prison on the same charge. But this wouldn't be the only time Venables would have a brush with police. Moreover, court-appointed psychiatrists determined that the two boys knew right from wrong and werent sociopaths, but were nevertheless able to uncover any concrete motives for James Bulgers murder something no professional has been able to confidently determine even in the years since. Instead of jail time, he was ordered to seek treatment for alcohol abuse. One of the investigators who talked to Thompson described him as street smart and clever.I dont know how he was doing at school, but he was switched on and he was trying to con me, trying very hard,the investigator said on Channel 5sLost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger. The boys hesitated, perhaps reconsidering what they were about to do, and did briefly turn away from the embankment. But when Venables was recalled to jail in 2010, it emerged Thompson had done well at Barton Moss secure unit, in Eccles, Lancs, showing a growing interest and talent in art. June 24, 2011. In 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables abducted, tortured and murdered the toddler after leading him away from a shopping centre in . Grainy CCTV footage shows them walking James away from the. Officials wrote: "The panel listed as risk factors those influences that made it more likely that Mr Venables would reoffend in the future. How can anyone say this monster is safe to live among us ever again?. It was suggested authorities believed paying for James Bulgers killer to go to a country like Canada, Australia or New Zealand would be cheaper than funding more failed new starts in the UK. They walked down one of Liverpools busiest streets. Thompson and Venables led Bulger away from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, after his mother had taken her . Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368 . There, they splashed stolen blue paint into Bulgers eyes. In Channel 5's two-part documentary Lost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger, one of the investigators who questioned Thompson said the young boy was "street smart" and "clever," and said the ten-year-old was "trying very, very hard to con me.".