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James Bulger’s father said tonight that he could “rest easy” as one of his son’s killers was denied parole.
Jon Venables, 38, and his friend Robert Thompson were 10 years old in 1993, when they killed James, two, after taking him away from Bootle, Merseyside.
They served eight years before being released on leave with anonymity for life, but Venables is now in jail for possessing images of child abuse.
It is understood that you have been told that it will be two years before you can reapply for parole.
James’s father, Ralph Bulger, said: “This is the first time the right decision has been made regarding my son’s killers.
“I’m very relieved because I was convinced that it would come out, just like it has before.”
(Image: BILLY GRIFFITHS)
Venables went to jail in 2010 for having images of child abuse on his laptop.
He was released in 2013 with another new identity, but in 2017 he was sent to prison again for the same crime.
The images included category A photos, the most serious type, and he also admitted to having a “pedophile manual.”
Judge Edis, who sentenced him to 40 months in jail in 2018, said: “The children depicted were often very young and vulnerable, there is perceptible pain and anguish.”
(Image: PA)
Venables would normally be allowed out after 20 months, but he cannot be released until recommended by the Parole Board as he has a lifetime license, which means he is on probation until he dies.
Bulger said: “He may not stay in jail forever, but just knowing he is behind bars means that children are safe from him for at least another two years.
“I’ve always said that Venables is a dangerous predatory pedophile and should never be released from jail, but no one has listened until now.
“They let him out twice before and he’s always backslid.
(Image: Getty)
“Now the probation officers saw the light and agreed that it is not safe for him to be released.
“I can’t express how relieved that is – I’ve spent the last few months dreading the phone call to say I was back on the streets.
“It will never be safe to release him and I hope they enforce his lifetime license and keep him locked up forever.”
James was kidnapped from a shopping mall before being tortured and killed.
(Image: PA)
Bulger said: “I have always believed that Venables will kill another child again if allowed to return to the community.
“Maybe the parole board has finally seen through his lies and deception.
“He is a bow manipulator and knows how to play authorities.
“But he has deceived them once too often and now they have spoken out against him.
“It is the only fair decision.
“Letting him out could be another death sentence for an innocent child like James.
“Since James was so horribly murdered, the courts have done everything they can to take care of Venables and Thompson.
“Now the tide has turned and he is finally facing real time in prison where he should have been from the beginning.”
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