Bulger killer Jon Venables in 'persistent state of self-disclosure'
Jon Venables, one of two people who killed James Bulger, has repeatedly revealed true identity, reports claim
Sunday, 07, Mar 2010 10:14
By Matthew Champion.
Jon Venables, one of the two people who killed toddler James Bulger in 1993, had repeatedly confessed his true identity to strangers in the months leading up to his return to prison, it has been claimed.
It was revealed last week Venables, now 27, was back in custody after an unspecified breach of the terms of his licence.
The Observer claimed on Sunday that Venables' mental state had deteriorated in recent months, putting him in a 'persistent state of self-disclosure'. The paper also claimed Venables had become a heavy drinker and frequent drug-user.
Venables abducted two-year-old James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Liverpool, with Robert Thompson in February 1993 before they beat him to death and laid his body on a railway track.
They were both convicted of his murder but released from prison eight years later under licence conditions and with a new identity.
The Ministry of Justice has so far refused to elaborate on the new allegations against Venables.
In a statement released on Saturday, justice secretary Jack Straw, who is to meet James' mother Denise Fergus over the developments, said: "Our motivation throughout has been solely to ensure that some extremely serious allegations are properly investigated and that justice is done.
"No one in this country would want anything other. That is what the authorities remain determined to do.
"I said on Wednesday that I was unable to give further details of the reasons for Jon Venables' return to custody because it was not in the public interest to do so."
According to the Sunday Mirror, Venables was taken back into custody on allegations revolving around indecent images of children.
The Sun yesterday also claimed that Venables had been arrested on suspicion of a serious sexual offence. It has emerged since then that an injunction has been obtained against the paper to prevent it from publishing the specific alleged offences
Harry Fletcher, assistant secretary general of the probation union, Napo, told the Observer: "It's an extremely difficult position for the authorities to be in.
"If they go ahead with court proceedings, this could undermine his anonymity but the fact he is self-disclosing his identity means giving him another new identity becomes almost inevitable. This situation is fraught with difficulties."
Laurence Lee, Venables' former solicitor, added: "He has been living in the community with a new identity for nine years and by recalling him they have risked everything that has been achieved. Now every prisoner and prison officer will be trying to work out which of the recalls in the last week is Venables. It's an absolute nightmare."
Mrs Fergus had the Sun yesterday: "Why can't the government be honest and tell us what he's done?
"All kinds of horrible thoughts were going through my head, and they still are because no one will tell me what he's done.
"It's wrong - as James' mother, I have a right to know."
A Parole Board hearing into the Venables case will be held in the next 28 days, with officials indicating the ruling will probably be made public due to the extremely-high public interest.
James Bulger's murder made headlines worldwide over the shock and revulsion of two schoolboys playing truant abducting a two-year-old while his mother went into a shop before beating him to death and leaving his body on a railway line so they could not be linked to the murder.
CCTV footage was released showing James being led away from the shopping centre while holding one of his killer's hands before the two boys were arrested ten days after the February 13th killing.
Later that year they were both found guilty of murder and sentenced to be detained at HM pleasure, the substitute for life when the defendant is a juvenile.
In 2001 they were released however when the parole board said they did not pose a risk to society.