Jon Venables, one of the two men convicted of murdering James Bulger, will remain in custody after informing a Parole Board panel that he was not seeking release. The panel, which reviewed his case behind closed doors, ruled that he was not suitable for release.
Parole Review Findings
A summary of the panel's conclusions, released on Monday, stated: "At the outset of the hearing, Mr Venables submitted an opening statement to the effect that he accepted the need to undertake further offending work in custody and so was not seeking release."
The panel examined evidence from probation officers working inside the prison and in the wider community, three psychologists, and a psychiatrist, with all but one concluding that he should remain behind bars.
Background of the Case
Venables, aged 10 at the time, and Robert Thompson abducted two-year-old James Bulger from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993, before torturing and killing him.
Venables was released on licence in July 2001 but was recalled to prison in February 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer. He was freed again in August 2013, then recalled in November 2017 for the same offence, with parole judges revisiting his case in September 2020.
Panel's Conclusions
During the most recent review, the panel heard a "victim personal statement which clearly conveyed the devastating impact of Mr Venables' crime and the impact of his offending." The panel raised concerns about how effectively Venables would cooperate with probation staff upon release and "how open and honest he would be in supervision."
Members stated there is "a need for further work in custody to address his sexual interests." The summary continued: "Mr Venables articulated his protracted and extreme remorse for his crime. Professionals assessed this to be genuine and sincere." The panel concluded that they were "not satisfied that Mr Venables was suitable for release."
