Bulger killer Jon Venables ‘will offend again’

The release of one of James Bulger's killers, Jon Venables, has provoked anger from the victim's father Ralph, who said the child killer was at risk of offending again. Picture: PA

Jon Venables, 31 was freed from prison after being locked up in 2010 for downloading images of child abuse.

Legal sources confirmed Venables had been released.

Venables had previously served eight years for murdering two-year-old James in Liverpool in 1993.

Jamie BUlger was murdered in 1993. Picture: PA

The killer has reportedly been given his fourth new identity at a reported cost of £250,000.

James’s father, Ralph, believes Venables will commit more crime, a friend said.

“He hasn’t put a time on it but he is convinced he will reoffend,” she said.

She added that James’s family were given scant information about Venables’ release and Mr Bulger was told via his lawyer.

“As ever they are kept in the dark.

“They don’t explain the terms of his release, I don’t know whether they are going to.

“But I don’t think Venables can enter Merseyside, however - that was one of the conditions which he repeatedly broke before.”

The toddler’s mother, Denise Fergus, told The Sun Venables is “a danger to the public”.

“He lies for his own sick ends,” she said.

“I have been told that the terms of his parole mean that he must not enter the county of Merseyside.

“But the Probation Service didn’t monitor him properly last time so I have no faith in their ability to do that now.

“They should’ve kept him locked up for a long time.”

Venables was just 10 years old when he and his friend, Robert Thompson, tortured and murdered James after abducting him from a shopping centre in Bootle.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on individual offenders.

“The re-release of life licensed offenders is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community.

“Their life licence lasts for the rest of their lives, and they may be recalled to prison at any time for breaching their licence conditions.

“Additionally, they will be subject to strict controls and restrictions for as long as their risk requires them.”

Mrs Fergus said she feared Venables was still a danger to her and her family.

She told Channel 5 News: “I’m just hoping and praying he doesn’t hurt anyone else. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already been to my house to see where I live. I just don’t trust him. I never will trust him and I think he’s still a great danger.

“When he was in prison, he was looked after. He was so protected. Now he’s not in prison he’s going to be looking over his shoulder.”

Mrs Fergus said she felt Venables had learnt how to play the system.

“He’s just getting rewarded for everything that he’s doing - all the wrong that he’s doing, he’s being rewarded,” she said.

“And now he’s walking again, he’s just laughing. He’s learnt how to play the system. He’s laughing at the system and he’s also laughing at us because he knows everything he does now, he’s going to get away with.”