Lawyers working for him were paid 8,100 in legal aid, with government lawyers working on the case costing an additional 57,300. Though nearly three decades have passed, the story of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables remains shocking to this day. [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. James Patrick Bulger (16 March 1990 - 12 February 1993) was a two-year-old boy from Kirkby, Merseyside, England, who was abducted, tortured, and murdered by two 10-year-old boys, Robert Thompson (born 23 August 1982) and Jon Venables (born 13 August 1982), on 12 February 1993. Venables was held at the Red Bank secure unit in St. Helens, Merseyside, which was not revealed until after he had been released. Officials wrote: "The panel listed as risk factors those influences that made it more likely that Mr Venables would reoffend in the future. Not long after the elderly woman sent the boys on their way, Bulger was almost rescued yet again. James Bulger's grieving father Ralph lost a High Court bid to have information about Venables made public. In July 2010, Venables appeared at the Old Bailey via video link which was only visible to the judge. Robert hasn't reoffended. A court order that is in place to prevent a person from being identified as Jon Venables or Robert Thompson has been amended, following an application from the Attorney General, Rt Hon. In his confession, Jon stated that it was Roberts idea that they kill Bulger. His mother treated her depression with heavy drinking and once tried to commit suicide. 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). In 2010, he was imprisoned for downloading images depicting various kinds of sexual abuse being inflicted upon male toddlers. 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. BWP Media via Getty ImagesTen-year-old Jon Venables poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. Addressing a potential future release, the report described how his chances of reoffending were he to be released from jail could be cut by certain "protective factors". And in the time between when that image was captured and when James Bulger was killed in a railway embankment a few miles away, the three boys had been seen walking around the area by dozens of people. He pleaded guilty to charges of downloading and distributing child sex images and was given a sentence of two years in prison. 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. The older boys then meandered around Liverpool past shops, buildings, and parking lots. Like Thompson, Venables parents were separated. The Liverpool railway embankment where James Bulgers body was found. Clickhereto upload yours. 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. They added: "Venables told the board he did not seek release because hes worried that hell re-offend. Gone outside with the boy, she said. Grainy CCTV footage shows them walking James away from the. Jon Venables was responsible for a sickening crime that horrified the nation. 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. His body would be found two days later by a group of horrified teenage boys who were playing in the area. This is one of the saddest and most devastating stories I have ever heard. 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.". 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. New Zealands Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, stated that the UK shouldnt bother applying for Jons residency in her country. The pair tortured and murdered James, whose body was found by a railway line. The seven years he spent in detention helped Robert as he is yet to reoffend or violate the terms of his release. It was also noted that Venables had not requested a release from prison or a transfer to an open jail. 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 . Nine months later, the trial began. 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. 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. Not only did they find blue paint on Venables jacket, but they also found blood on Thompsons shoes. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. 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. A woman concerned for the toddler told Venables and Thompson that she would take the child to the police station herself. Though a train came and severed Bulgers body in two it was obvious that his demise was no accident. Robert is now openly gay and is in a long-term relationship. Living under new names, they would both follow different trajectories. But when she looked down, he was gone. Where Are Child Murderers Robert Thompson And Jon Venables Today. A woman would recognize one of the suspects, 10-year-old Jon Venables. This time, he also had a pedophile manual.This is my own fault,he allegedly told police. Apparently satisfied with their explanation, the woman simply told the two boys to take the toddler down to the nearby Walton Lane Police Station. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. A move abroad would cost, of course, but the thinking is it would be cheaper in the long run,a source said. In their bid to have Venables' identity disclosed, lawyers for Ralph and Jimmy Bulger argued certain details about the killer and his life are "common knowledge" and easily accessible online. The. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Most recently, Venables was denied parole in September 2020. 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. Though they were known to be rule-breakers, they mostly dabbled in low-level criminal activity, like stealing small items from stores and throwing them down mall escalators. Adult criminals have also been given new identities over fears of a vigilante attack. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 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. 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. However, Denise Fergus, James Bulgers mother, concurred with the judges ruling. He could now be kept in prison for the rest of his life ifthe board decides he poses too much of a risk to ever be freed again. James was taken from the Strand shopping center, . The Mirrorreports that authorities considered relocating Jon to Canada, Australia, or New Zealand to reduce the cost of keeping him in the UK. She phoned the police and expressed regret for not doing something. Though not much is known about his current whereabouts, he is reportedly in a stable relationship with a man who is fully aware of his past. "I have had urges, inquisitive. Now 38, It is believed that he is still. "This is, therefore, a wholly exceptional case and the evidence in 2019 is more than sufficient to sustain the conclusion that there continues to be a real risk of very substantial harm to (Venables).". Wikimedia Commons James Bulger being kidnapped by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, as seen on CCTV footage. There, they splashed stolen blue paint into Bulgers eyes. All of the instruments used in the attack were found strewn around the area the iron bar, stones, and bricks all covered in the boys blood. A 2015 interview with James Bulgers mother. With evening approaching, an elderly woman saw Bulger crying, noticed his injuries, and approached the trio to enquire what was wrong. There are currently six infamous Brit criminals whose crimes are so notorious they have been given lifetime anonymity. Its just a big knot in your chest and thats been there since day one.. Venables, however, is in prison after being convicted twice of child pornography offences. Dr. Ian Cumming, a psychiatrist, talked toIndependentabout the difficulties people with fake identities face when building relationships: So much about peoples interactions with others is built on trust, and if what youre doing and who you are is not really correct than thats quite a strain on the individual. James Bulger Story. At the canal, they dropped Bulger on his head and left him on the ground crying. As required by law, he will be eligible for another parole review in due course.. "Pure evil, I will never change my mind about that.". 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. They were a match made in hell. 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. This is a case that rocked Britain and shocked the entire world. 3 And in 2018, he was sentenced to 40 months after admitting to possessing more than 1,000 child abuse images and the pedophile manual. And if they hadnt been caught I fear they would have struck again. Mr Bulger said: Ive always believed Venables will kill another child again if he is allowed back into the community. On one occasion, his probation officer made a home visit and saw that Venables was busy trying to destroy a hard drive from his computer. American Aviator Charles Lindbergh Was A God Among Men Until He Revealed His Nazi Sympathies, Two Seattle Artists Face Federal Charges For Faking Native American Heritage To Sell Art, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. At first, they announced the boys name over the malls loudspeakers. Having a partner thats comfortable with his identity must have helped a lot. ROBERT Thompson abducted, tortured and murdered two-year-old James Bulger alongside his partner in crime Jon Venables when they were just 10 years old. The youngster had no record of violence before he was found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger. 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. A judge sentenced the pair to detention which ended when the pair hit eighteen. Both were released under strict conditions in 2001 and given new identities, but Venables kept falling foul of the law and was put behind bars once again for more horrific crimes. So the authorities secretly visited Robert Thompson who lived in Walton, not far from the murder scene with his mother and 2 younger brothers. Instead of jail time, he was ordered to seek treatment for alcohol abuse. Due to the national furor surrounding their case, they were both given new identities. It is believed Thompson remains in a long-term relationship with a man who knows his real identity. Closed-circuit camera footage revealed that a child fitting Bulger's description was led away from the shopping center by two young boys. 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. But the two ten-year-olds said, We just found him at the bottom of the hill.. Jon Venables New Identity Leaked February 13, 1993. Interestingly, his partner knows his real identity. Who was Wu Lien-teh and who was his wife Ruth? Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were arrested on February 18, 1993, a little less than a week after the murder. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". But when she asked another woman nearby to look after her daughter while she did so, that woman refused because her dog did not like children. She was also bothered by the fact that Thompson would cry, but there wouldn't be any tears. I did kill him, Venables said. 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". The reports said that Robert is openly gay and is in a long-term relationship with a partner who knows his real identity. All in all, Bulger sustained 42 injuries to his face, head, and body. And if they hadnt been caught I fear they would have struck again. The older boys ignored him and continued down to a secluded area near a canal. In September 2008 he was arrested on suspicion of affray after a drunken brawl outside a nightclub and was given a formal warning by the probation service. Dr. 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 twisted child killer, now aged 39, took the youngster from a shopping centre along with friend Robert Thompson, before the baby's dead body by a railway track. He was not allowed to contact Thompson, who was also released at the same time with a new identity, or the Bulger family and he could not visit the Merseyside region. Such was the shocking story of two 10-year-old's, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson from England, who killed and mutilated the body of 2-year-old James Bulger.. On that fateful day, the troubled boys were skipping school and wandering around a busy mall, stealing sweets . The report concluded: After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made whilst in custody and on licence, as well as the other evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that Mr Venables was suitable for re-release. Thompson has been free since his release in 2001. Now the tide has turned and finally he is facing real prison time where he should have been from the beginning., *Lost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger airs tonight on Channel 5 at 9pm and continues at the same time on Thursday, Get the biggest TV headlines, recaps and insider knowledge straight to your inbox. Malcolm Croft/PA Images/Getty ImagesJames Bulgers parents, pictured one day before their child was found dead. The youngster had no record of violence before he was found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger. Robert Thompson and Jon Venables The public was already outraged as the police were still not able to catch the killers. James Bulger was seized and killed by Robert Thompson and his accomplice Jon Venables. 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. Here is what happened to Jon Venables after he was found guilty of murdering James Bulger. During his hearing, the court heard that upon his arrest he told cops in the police car: "This is my own fault. Harry Fletcher, a probation officers union official, talked toIndependentabout Jons difficulty with keeping his identity secret. The same path would not apply to his partner in crime, however. But no one did anything. But they werent. The lawyer, representing Ralph and his brother Jimmy, told a court on May 2 that the original injunction granted to Venables was on the basis that he was rehabilitated and did not re-offend. More than 25 years later, the surveillance image above remains etched in the minds of the millions familiar with the James Bulger case. He was sent back to prison with a new identity as hed divulged who he was to staff and inmates. Ralph expressed concern that Jon would reoffend if released from prison with a new identity. While the abduction of James Bulger was caught on camera, police had few leads for potential suspects. Robert Thompson was released in 2010. The child killer was released from a young offenders institution under licence in 2001 and has not re-offended since. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Jons first brush with authorities after his release came after a bar brawl in 2008. So, when the eight years were up in 2001, both boys were released. She was concerned, but another woman standing nearby said shed heard James laughing moments ago and so both assumed nothing was wrong. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Footage of the boy's two abductors was released to the public by police. 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. ", Outside court, solicitor advocate for the Bulgers, Robin Makin, said: "The authorities seem to be hell-bent on protecting JV regardless of the risk to others and this has been a primary driving force behind Ralph and Jimmys application.". 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