This led to a police investigation of the drive, which yielded dozens of images of abused children. Though nearly three decades have passed, the story of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables remains shocking to this day. On March 4, 2019, it was announced Thompson's accomplice Jon Venables is to keep his anonymity after a judge ruled it would protect him from "serious violence". What befell James Bulger? AT just ten years old, Jon Venables callously abducted and murdered James Bulger, 2, in 1993 in a case that sent shockwaves through the UK and the rest of the world. In Channel 5's two-part documentary Lost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger, one of the investigators who questioned Thompson said the young boy was "street smart" and "clever," and said the ten-year-old was "trying very, very hard to con me.". He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. But Blake Morrison, the author of As If: A Crime, a Trial, a Question of Childhood, a book on the trial, points out that Venables had a temper and had been known to lose control and had done some pretty weird things[and it was] just as likely that he was the instigator.. They first attempted to lure a three-year-old girl and her two-year-old brother away from their mother. But in 1993, these two British boys became cold-blooded killers and murdered a toddler. The boys ended up at the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle (near Liverpool) on the afternoon of February 12 after having skipped school that day. A woman would recognize one of the suspects, 10-year-old Jon Venables. The boys hesitated, perhaps reconsidering what they were about to do, and did briefly turn away from the embankment. There, they splashed stolen blue paint into Bulgers eyes. Authorities gave Robert and Jon new identities and released them into society under strict supervision. There are currently six infamous Brit criminals whose crimes are so notorious they have been given lifetime anonymity. Then they arrived at the railway. Jon Venables was born on August 13, 1982. Its not surprising that he may have revealed his true identity, given the enormity of what hes done and the difficulty of coming to terms with that and a new identity,Harry said. Closed-circuit camera footage revealed that a child fitting Bulger's description was led away from the shopping center by two young boys. Here is what happened to Jon Venables after he was found guilty of murdering James Bulger. In 2010, he was arrested for possessing images of child sexual abuse accumulated in over a year. He was denied parole in 2000 and ordered to stay behind bars for at least an additional two years. 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. To those who arent familiar, the scene looks harmless enough: Two boys leading a toddler, one holding his hand as they make their way through a normal shopping mall in Bootle, England. As for Venables, he has been thrown in prison again on multiple occasions, most notably for possession of child pornography and a pedophile manual, which described how to abuse young girls in sickening detail. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". He added: "As Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss held, (Venables) is 'uniquely notorious' and there is a strong possibility, if not a probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences. Popular disgust only intensified when witnesses and the media noted Thompsons cold, seemingly remorseless behavior at trial (compared with Venables hysterical outbursts). Routine psychiatric examinations determined that he showed remorse for his crimes. Grainy CCTV footage shows them walking James away from the. We pay for your stories! Beyond that, I have no further comments to make., Inside Aimee Challenors life, her husband and parents, Inside Kimberly Guilfoyles life, her parents and ex-husbands, Are Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes still dating? A freak of nature. His father had abandoned the family early on, causing his depressed mother to turn to alcohol and even attempt suicide. Robin Makin, the advocate for the petitioners, protested the decision, stating that the court failed to consider the risk Jon poses to others. 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. Adult criminals have also been given new identities over fears of a vigilante attack. "To let him out could be another death sentence for an innocent child like James. By the time Thompson and Venables skipped school together on February 12, 1993, the two boys were good friends. Though Venables father was still in the picture, his mother was known to be harsh toward the young boy. Youve got enormous burdens to carry around.. Over 20 years later, he has remained off the radar of authorities and has continued to live under his assumed identity. Most recently, Venables was denied parole in September 2020. The child murderers were sent to a. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. 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. Thompson was held at Barton Moss near Manchester, where he cultivated an interest in subjects like art and theater. A move abroad would cost, of course, but the thinking is it would be cheaper in the long run.. As for Venables, he was also born in Liverpool, and just a few days before Thompson, on August 13, 1982. Thompson and Venables were only 10 years old at the time of the murder, making them the youngest convicted killers in Britain. 2 He was sent back to prison with a new identity as hed divulged who he was to staff and inmates. On the outside, he finds it difficult to make friends or gain employment and he seeks out drink, sex and pornography as a way of adding excitement to this life and thats a potent mix.. She was also accused of being a loose woman who was often seen with several different men. In one of the most chilling photos in recent times, Venables was captured holding the 2-year-old James Bulger as Robert walked ahead of the pair. Venables took him by the hand. Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both 10, murdered him in cold blood. I have let people down again. He added: "As Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss held, (Venables) is 'uniquely notorious' and there is a strong possibility, if not a probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences. Ive had urges, inquisitive.Mr. Justice Edis sentenced Venables to 40 months in prison, saying:The children depicted were often very young and vulnerable, there is discernible pain and distress suffered.. They were remanded to separate maximum security juvenile institutions under aliases, out of fear for their safety. A source said: Hes been relocated all over the country a large number of times costing a fortune. But he found himself back in a maximum category A jail, which we cannot identify for legal reasons,after being caught with vile child abuse images following a top-secret police operation. Venables and Thompson abducted James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside before brutally torturing and murdering the tot and left his body by a railway line. Due to the national furor surrounding their case, they were both given new identities. All in all, Bulger sustained 42 injuries to his face, head, and body. Instead of jail time, he was ordered to seek treatment for alcohol abuse. By this time, Denise was panicking. Though authorities initially thought Bulger had been abducted by an adult, CCTV footage revealed the shocking truth that he had been taken by two kids. 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. ", The report said Venables was benefitting from ongoing psychological work in prison and had taken part in programmes to address decision making, better ways of thinking and a propensity for sexual offending.. The youngster had no record of violence before he was found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger. Both of them served their eight-year sentences and earned release from prison in 2001 after they each had turned 18. Having a partner thats comfortable with his identity must have helped a lot. Venables soon blurted out, I did kill him. More than 25 years later, the surveillance image above remains etched in the minds of the millions familiar with the James Bulger case. In the wake of removing the baby from a mall in Bootle, Merseyside, two 10-year-old young men grabbed and killed him in 1993. tvguidetime.com The paint was showered in his eyes, blocks were flung at him, he was kicked, and batteries were embedded in his mouth. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". At the canal, they dropped Bulger on his head and left him on the ground crying. Both Venables and Thompson were released at age 18 in June 2001. But as they scanned the lists of children who had been absent that day from local schools, they soon received an anonymous phone call that blamed Venables and Thompson for the crime. Not long after the bar fight, he was found to be in possession of cocaine. Rumours had spread widely on social media that Jon Venables, who murdered James Bulger in 1993 along with Robert Thompson, had had his eyes ripped out in prison . Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, pictured after their arrest for the murder of James Bulger. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Both boys were ordered to be imprisoned until review when they turned 18. The parole experts cited there would need to be several very strict limitations on Venables and his contacts, movements and activities would need to be limited. So the authorities secretly visited Robert Thompson who lived in Walton, not far from the murder scene with his mother and 2 younger brothers. The older boys ignored him and continued down to a secluded area near a canal. Some witnesses later remembered seeing Bulger laughing while others remembered seeing him resisting and even screaming for his mother. During their November 1993 trial, the world was equally shocked and outraged that two young boys could have the capacity to viciously murder a toddler. 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. BWP Media via Getty ImagesTen-year-old Robert Thompson, one James Bulgers killers, poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. Lifelong anonymity is put in place by courts rarely and is usually in only the most infamous and horrific cases. 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. 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. 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. ", 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.". Venables was first imprisoned for possessing images of child abuse in 2010, but he was released in 2013. She was also bothered by the fact that Thompson would cry, but there wouldn't be any tears. They were a match made in hell. He and his second wife Natalie McDermott, welcomed a baby girl in 2014. Official figures showed that Venables' attempt to keep his identity secret cost taxpayers more than 65,000. "Features leading up to his offending as an adult included a sense of dissatisfaction and lack of fulfilment in life, a need for excitement, and a tendency to turn to sex or pornography as a means of coping. A Match Made In Hell: How Robert Thompson And Jon Venables Became Killers At Age 10. Thompson was the fifth of seven children, born on August 23, 1982, in Liverpool, England. He was then told that hed have to wait two more years before hed be eligible for parole again. At first glance, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables seemed like two ordinary 10-year-olds. PA Images via Getty ImagesA policeman stands guard at the entrance of the site where the body of James Bulger was found on a railway embankment in Liverpool. Venables and Thompson were then sentenced to serve at Her Majestys pleasure, as is standard protocol for juvenile offenders convicted of murder or manslaughter. What befell James Bulger? Malcolm Croft PA Images/PA Images via Getty ImagesThe parents of James Bulger, Denise and Ralph, at a police press conference in Liverpool the day after their son disappeared. In November 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables became the youngest convicted murderers in British history. It was suggested authorities believed paying for James Bulgers killer to go to a country like Canada, Australia or New Zealand would be cheaper than funding more failed new starts in the UK. Jon Venables was just 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson abducted and murdered James Bulger alongside - and now he is back behind bars after being caught with horrific child abuse images. James Bulgers parents, pictured one day before their child was found dead. 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. In October last year, a parole report warned that Venables has an "attraction to sexual violence" and "thinks about sex a lot". The parents of James Bulger, Denise and Ralph, at a police press conference in Liverpool the day after their son disappeared. After intensive rehabilitation, the pair were handed new identities. Where Are Child Murderers Robert Thompson And Jon Venables Today. Robert Thompson had a tough childhood and there were allegations of . A judge sentenced the pair to detention which ended when the pair hit eighteen. They walked down one of Liverpools busiest streets. I think Thompson was in charge, but they both attacked James. 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. Apparently satisfied with their explanation, the woman simply told the two boys to take the toddler down to the nearby Walton Lane Police Station. He pleaded guilty to charges of downloading and distributing child sex images and was given a sentence of two years in prison. Some witnesses later reported that the older boys roughed up Bulger in plain sight, kicking, punching, and shaking him. He had passed five GCSEs, taken A-levels and enjoyed trips to the Lake District and even to the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The. Hes gonna be all right, Denise, I said. February 13, 1993. The murder of two-year-old James Bulger shocked Britain. Thus it was widely assumed that Thompson was the instigator even though psychiatrists and authorities have never been able to reach a conclusion on the boys motives. The murder captivated the nation as people wondered what would motivate two 10-year-olds to abduct and murder a defenseless toddler. At trial in 1993, Thompson was painted as the ringleader, leading Venables on at every turn. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". In 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables abducted, tortured and murdered the toddler after leading him away from a shopping centre in . Over the course of interviews lasting several days, Venables eventually confessed. The same path would not apply to his partner in crime, however. I shouldnt have let go.. We pay for videos too. My advice would be dont bother applying,she said. "But he has duped them once too often and now they have ruled against him. But the two ten-year-olds said, We just found him at the bottom of the hill.. James was a two-year-old boy from a loving family who lived in Bootle, Merseyside. It wont be a slap on the wrist for me.. Shockingly, James Bulger wasnt the first child they targeted that day. Venables and Thompson were tried in an adult courtroom by a jury. This left her with the impression that he was faking remorse. Robert Thompson (on the left) and Jon Venables (both born in August, 1982, ) are two felons, known in British history as the youngest convicted criminals at . He lives in a community in the North West. After momentarily becoming distracted, Bulger's mother noticed that he was nowhere to be seen. Who suggested it is unclear; later, after they were arrested, each blamed the other. His mysterious death. The Daily Mail tells us that he will be in front of another parole board early in 2023. But no one did anything. Following his eight-year sentence for the horrific crime, Robert Thompson was freed and given a new identity. Venables' new identity has been changed twice after he told friends he was a convicted murderer. Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368 . He had passed five GCSEs, taken A-levels and enjoyed trips to the Lake District and even to the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Jon Venables pictured using a mobile phone, a questionable activity given his inability to maintain anonymity. His body would be found two days later by a group of horrified teenage boys who were playing in the area. Three months later, he got off with a warning after police caught him in possession of a small amount of cocaine. 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. chloe johnson peter buck wedding; le mal en elle fin du film Some even saw the older boys punch and kick the two-year-old. James Bulgers mother, Denise, was able to locate Robert Thompson in 2004 but was paralyzed with hatred and could not confront him. To this day, the motive still remains unclear. Hes with two young kids hes gonna be all right.'. However, Denise Fergus, James Bulgers mother, concurred with the judges ruling. But they werent. Rape survivor slams Gabby Petito Utah cop over handling of her case, 'Dark details' about boyfriend of US swim champ who mysteriously died, Disturbing red flags of Lindsay Clancy's psychosis before she 'killed 3 kids', Mysterious powder swamps US skies as residents report dust-covered cars, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Jon Venables was ten years old when he was arrested for the torture and murder of two-year-old James Bulger, Chilling CCTV shows the moment James was led away from his parents, Venables was jailed for two years in 2010 after he admitted downloading and distributing indecent images of children, James Bulger killer Jon Venables charged over indecent images of children. Here is what we know about the child killer and who was released from a young offenders' institution under licence in 2001. Venables was caged once again in 2010 after being found with a hoard of horrifying child abuse images on his laptop. 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