Jon Venables, who murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, has had his bid for freedom rejected by a parole board. The decision has brought relief to the family of his victim.
Venables, now 44, was just 10 years old when he tortured and killed James Bulger. He has been sent back to jail for at least another two years, after which he will be able to apply for parole again. Parole officials ruled that Venables still posed a serious danger to society.
Family's reaction to the decision
A spokeswoman for James' family said his mother, Denise Fergus, felt "overwhelming relief" after Venables was turned down in his freedom bid. Venables had reoffended and been jailed twice since being released for James' murder.
Spokeswoman Kym Morris told the Mirror: "This is the decision Denise has been desperately waiting for. She is delighted that Jon Venables will not be able to harm another family like hers for at least another two years."
Morris added: "From a personal perspective she was deeply worried and understandably worried that the parole board would deem him fit to be released from prison as she knows first-hand the danger he poses to the nation."
Details of the parole hearing
"We are delighted the parole board has made the correct decision. Her main emotion today is one of overwhelming relief," Morris said. "However, he will be able to apply again for parole in a couple of years so Denise will always have that in the back of her mind. We would urge justice officials to look at changing the ability for serious criminals like Venables to keep reapplying for parole so soon after having it rejected."
The decision comes three weeks after a private three-day hearing concluded. Officials decided Venables was still too much of a danger to be released and sent him straight back to prison. He can re-apply for parole in two years.
Background of the case
Venables and Robert Thompson, also 44, murdered James after snatching him from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside in 1993. They were released after less than eight years in a reoffenders institute. Thompson is not believed to have reoffended, yet Venables has been recalled to prison twice for making sexual images of children.
