They walked down one of Liverpools busiest streets. While inside, Venables received education and rehabilitation while being taught how to conceal his real name and horrifying crime. 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.". 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. The next day, police searched the canal where the boys had been earlier in the afternoon because an eyewitness had reported seeing Bulger there. A three-page document also noted Venables had not requested a release from prison or a transfer to an open jail. This valuable clue would lead to the arrest of Venables and his 10-year-old accomplice Robert Thompson (via Crime and Investigation). James Bulger being kidnapped by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, as seen on CCTV footage. Mary Bell, the 11-year-old who killed toddlers and got off light. 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. By all accounts, Venables and Thompson showed no violent or aberrant behavior in prison but instead served their time for the James Bulger murder quietly and without incident. "Don't bother," was Jacinda Ardern's message to the child murderer when a local news conference touched on the reports British officials were looking to potentially relocate him to New Zealand. Ralph and James's uncle Jimmy had launched a bid to have Venables' anonymity removed, arguing certain details about him were "common knowledge" and easily accessible online. Moments later, her three-year-old daughter and two-year-old son were missing. Venables and Thompson were both charged. 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. "This is, therefore, a wholly exceptional case and the evidence in 2019 is more than sufficient to sustain the conclusion that there continues to be a real risk of very substantial harm to (Venables).". Over 20 years later, he has remained off the radar of authorities and has continued to live under his assumed identity. At first, they announced the boys name over the malls loudspeakers. A freak of nature. It was the second time she had attempted to post information purportedly about Venables, the . Some witnesses later reported that the older boys roughed up Bulger in plain sight, kicking, punching, and shaking him. Venables was held at the Red Bank secure unit in St. Helens, Merseyside, which was not revealed until after he had been released. Mr Bulger said: Ive always believed Venables will kill another child again if he is allowed back into the community. His father had abandoned the family early on, causing his depressed mother to turn to alcohol and even attempt suicide. 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. Here is what happened to Jon Venables after he was found guilty of murdering James Bulger. WikimediaJames Bulger killers Jon Venables (holding the boys hand) and Robert Thompson (walking directly in front of the boy) abduct their victim just before killing him, as captured by a surveillance camera. The toddlers heartbreaking final words were: I want my mum.. Despite the fuzzy footage, it was two small boys that could be seen leading James Bulger (identified from the description of his clothing provided by his mother) to the exit. Gone outside with the boy, she said. The twisted child killer, now aged 39, took the youngster from a shopping centre along with friend Robert Thompson, before the baby's dead body by a railway track. The case was rejected by Judge Sir Andrew McFarlane, who argued the convict could be killed if his new identity was revealed. Three months later he was given a caution for possession of cocaine after he was found with a small amount of the class A drug. And even by 2000, top child psychiatrist Sir Michael Rutter claimed the risk posed by Venables on his release was "trivial". A woman passing by noticed Bulger but did nothing. Their young age, coupled with the brutality of their crime, shocked the United Kingdom to its core. And in 2018, he was sentenced to 40 months after admitting to possessing more than 1,000 child abuse images and the pedophile manual. Robin Makin, the advocate for the petitioners, protested the decision, stating that the court failed to consider the risk Jon poses to others. Some witnesses later remembered seeing Bulger laughing while others remembered seeing him resisting and even screaming for his mother. Soon after, a woman saw Thompson punch Bulger and shake him. Then, read up on the most horrific child murderers. Denise Fergus and her then-husband Ralph Bulger were worried sick. "My decision is in no way a reflection on the applicants themselves, for whom there is a profoundest sympathy," he said. Outside the courthouse, people called for the blood of the James Bulger killers. The report noted he had displayed "positive behaviour" since being locked up, but felt a "lack of fulfilment in life" and had a "need for excitement". Motive aside, both Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were convicted, making them the youngest to be convicted of that crime in Britain in 250 years. Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368 . 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Robert Thompson and Venables became Britain's youngest killers for 250 years, James Bulger was snatched from his mum in a shopping mall in Merseyside, Denise Fergus shows previously unseen family photos of her murdered two-year-old son for a new documentary 'James Bulger: A Mother's Story with Trevor McDonald'. The Daily Mail tells us that he will be in front of another parole board early in 2023. She quickly found mall security personnel and described her son and what he was wearing. But once a child turns 18, their name can be reported. Venables was first imprisoned for possessing images of child abuse in 2010, but he was released in 2013. Peter Byrne/PA Images/Getty ImagesJames Bulgers father Ralph Bulger (pictured) is fighting to keep Jon Venables in prison for life. Who was Wu Lien-teh and who was his wife Ruth? How can anyone say this monster is safe to live among us ever again?. 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. These include his "level of intelligence, making constructive use of his time, a capacity and motivation for self-reflection, and a supportive social network in the community". Robert Thompson and Jon Venables The public was already outraged as the police were still not able to catch the killers. New Zealand's immigration department had not received any applications from Venables, she told media. With Bulgers mother, Denise, momentarily distracted, they got the toddler to come with them. Venables, Thompson, and Bulger then walked into two different stores where they interacted with both shopkeepers who, though suspicious of the older boys, let them go. Like Thompson, Venables parents were separated. The judge said: [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.. Ralph expressed concern that Jon would reoffend if released from prison with a new identity. A source told the paper that Venables told the panel and his probation officer he doesn't even want to be freed. Many of these witnesses later admitted that Bulger looked distressed. Thompson and Venables led Bulger away from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, after his mother had taken her . She was concerned, but another woman standing nearby said shed heard James laughing moments ago and so both assumed nothing was wrong. 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 . Adult criminals have also been given new identities over fears of a vigilante attack. During his hearing, the court heard that upon his arrest he told cops in the police car: "This is my own fault. A Match Made In Hell: How Robert Thompson And Jon Venables Became Killers At Age 10. In July 2010, Venables appeared at the Old Bailey via video link which was only visible to the judge. Mere luck had saved the boy and sealed James Bulgers terrible fate. After intensive rehabilitation, the pair were handed new identities. Instead of jail time, he was ordered to seek treatment for alcohol abuse. Robert Thompson, now 36, said he is a "better person" thanks to his years in prison but. 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. Shed objected to Ralphs petition, saying: I understand the motivation for the application, but my concern is that if Venables were known by his own name, it could lead to vigilante action and innocent people being hurt. Both boys were soon arrested, and it didnt take long for them to turn on each other. And if they hadnt been caught I fear they would have struck again.. This led to a police investigation of the drive, which yielded dozens of images of abused children. [Robert Thompson and Jon Venables] now 18, were sent to secure units in November 1993, after they were found guilty of abducting two-year old James Bulger and beating him to death, the Home Office has announced today that they will be freed after serving less than nine years of their sentence. February 13, 1993. Security cameras caught the three children walking outside at 3:42 p.m. By that point, Fergus had already alerted mall security, who made several announcements to shoppers about the missing child. Under current legislation, child suspects are granted automatic anonymity in the youth courts and are routinely granted the same if they appear at crown court aside from exceptional circumstances. ", 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.. She was also accused of being a loose woman who was often seen with several different men. Sarah Everard: Serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, arrested on suspicion of murder, kidnap & indecent exposure, Brazil Covid variant is an 'atom bomb' that threatens to destroy worlds hopes of beating the pandemic, experts warn, Burping and 8 other unusual Covid symptoms that can linger for months, Bizarre floating ships seen off the coast of Britain could unlock the 109-year-old mystery of the Titanic's sinking, Weather forecast UK LIVE Met Office warnings of gale force winds for ALL of England today, Kent variant is up to TWICE as deadly as original strains, scientists warn. Its just a big knot in your chest and thats been there since day one.. The stolen tin of blue paint was found nearby. I think Thompson was in charge, but they both attacked James. Though not much is known about his current whereabouts, he is reportedly in a stable relationship with a man who is fully aware of his past. "I have had urges, inquisitive. He is yet to violate the terms of his release. Ten-year-old Robert Thompson, one James Bulgers killers, poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. In 2010, he was arrested for possessing images of child sexual abuse accumulated in over a year. Living under new names, they would both follow different trajectories. Mifflintown, PA 17059. Bulger Killer JON Venables is one half of a pair of notorious child killers who abducted and then murdered two-year-old James Bulger back in 1993. They were remanded to separate maximum security juvenile institutions under aliases, out of fear for their safety. She had thought that her son was by her side as she was placing her order at the butcher shop. But it was ultimately an anonymous phone call to the police that implicated Jon Venables and Robert Thompson as the James Bulger killers. In June 2019, it was reported Venables was being assessed for a permanent move to Canada. James Bulger was seized and killed by Robert Thompson and his accomplice Jon Venables. Both Venables and Thompson were released at age 18 in June 2001. However, the psychiatrists were not able to find a motive for this horrific crime. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Jons first brush with authorities after his release came after a bar brawl in 2008. They were a match made in hell. 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. Updated: 20:25, 29 Sep 2021 ROBERT Thompson abducted and tortured to death two-year-old James Bulger alongside his partner in crime Jon Venables when they were just ten years old. The child killer was released from a young offenders' institution under licence in 2001 and has not re-offended since. Such was the shocking story of two 10-year-old's, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson from England, who killed and mutilated the body of 2-year-old James Bulger.. On that fateful day, the troubled boys were skipping school and wandering around a busy mall, stealing sweets . When officers arrived at his flat, Venables was attempting to remove or destroy the hard drive of his computer with a knife and tin opener. The tot was kidnapped, tortured, and sexually abused by the two ten-year-olds. Thompson and Venables eventually arrived near a railway track in Walton. 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.. In fact, that first child nearly became the victim. Later that night, one of the women saw the news that Bulger was missing. But no one did anything. Venables and Thompson were then sentenced to serve at Her Majestys pleasure, as is standard protocol for juvenile offenders convicted of murder or manslaughter. Updated: 15:25 ET, Sep 29 2021 ROBERT Thompson abducted and tortured to death two-year-old James Bulger alongside his partner in crime Jon Venables when they were just ten years old. Where Are Child Murderers Robert Thompson And Jon Venables Today. Jon Venables and Robert Thompson: Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were child killers who abducted and murdered 2-year-old James Bulger. Ten-year-old Jon Venables poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. On the anniversary of James' death, he was pictured visiting James's . The crimes of the 10-year-old killers horrified Britain. The full story of how James Bulger killers Robert Thompson and Jon Venables led their two-year-old victim past dozens of witnesses on a grim path to his chilling death. Nevertheless, additional passersby could still see the partially-covered forehead injury, and one person even saw a tear on Bulgers cheek. After a three-week trial, the jury took only five hours to render a guilty verdict for the boys. The cops soon checked both boys homes. But one bystander provided a glimmer of hope however fleeting for James Bulger. Though they were unsuccessful, Thompson and Venables didnt give up. There are currently six infamous Brit criminals whose crimes are so notorious they have been given lifetime anonymity. At first glance, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables seemed like two ordinary 10-year-olds. 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. But the two ten-year-olds said, We just found him at the bottom of the hill.. Thompson hasnt reoffended per the terms of his release, but authorities believe he masterminded the plan that led to James Bulgers death. Both boys were ordered to be imprisoned until review when they turned 18. Meanwhile, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables led the toddler far away from the mall and toward another town. It was also noted that Venables had not requested a release from prison or a transfer to an open jail. Though they were known to be rule-breakers, they mostly dabbled in low-level criminal activity, like stealing small items from stores and throwing them down mall escalators. Another investigator said Thompson "would cry whenever there would be an awkward situation," to avoid questioning. A policeman stands guard at the entrance of the site where the body of James Bulger was found on a railway embankment in Liverpool. He was denied parole in 2000 and ordered to stay behind bars for at least an additional two years. After luring the toddler away from a shopping center in Bootle, Merseyside, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables kidnapped, tormented, and murdered him in 1993. "To let him out could be another death sentence for an innocent child like James. He was visited regularly by his parents and was kept at Red Bank for the full eight years because of good progress, despite the facility only being a short-stay remand unit. Then they arrived at the railway. The twisted child killer,. Thompson was held at Barton Moss near Manchester, where he cultivated an interest in subjects like art and theater. Shockingly, James Bulger wasnt the first child they targeted that day. He was arrested yet again in 2017 for the same crime. 3 Hes gonna be all right, Denise, I said. More than 25 years later, the surveillance image above remains etched in the minds of the millions familiar with the James Bulger case. The brutal torture and murder of James Bulger occurred sometime between 5:45 and 6:30 PM. Not long after the bar fight, he was found to be in possession of cocaine. That blow alone caused 10 skull fractures. But in 1993, these two British boys became cold-blooded killers and murdered a toddler. Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? On February 12, 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables abducted a 2-year-old boy named James Bulger from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, England. But they werent. And so Bulger slipped away from safety once again. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. The panel listed as risk factors those influencers that made it more likely that Mr. Venables would reoffend in the future,the report read. They then led him to an area called Walton in Liverpool, where they tortured him, beat him to death, and abandoned his body on a railway track in an effort to make his murder look like an accident. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. He said: "I don't know how he was doing at school, but he was switched on and he was trying to con me, trying very hard". Venables claimed he was acting in self-defence and the charges were dropped after he agreed to go on an alcohol-awareness course. Thompson is believed to have succeeded in making a new life for himself. PA Images/Getty ImagesThe Liverpool railway embankment where James Bulgers body was found. By 4:15 PM, however, there was no sign of James Bulger and he was reported missing to the local police station. We pay for your stories! I have let people down again. ONE of James Bulger's killers says he has had a better life as a result of murdering the toddler. Toddler James Bulger disappeared on February 12 1993. Thompson and Venables were only 10 years old at the time of the murder, making them the youngest convicted killers in Britain. This indefinite sentence has no maximum but does have a minimum to be determined on a case-by-case basis. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. This is one of the saddest and most devastating stories I have ever heard. When Venables saw the mother, they told the boy to go back to her and they vanished. He could now be kept in prison for the rest of his life ifthe board decides he poses too much of a risk to ever be freed again. But in November 2017, Jon Venables was again imprisoned when more child abuse images and a pedophile manual that provided instructions on having sex with kids were discovered on his computer. Having a partner thats comfortable with his identity must have helped a lot. 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. After a three-week trial, the jury took only five hours to render a guilty verdict for the boys. And if they hadnt been caught I fear they would have struck again. One person even saw Thompson kick Bulger in the ribs for resisting. "Risk factors identified in subsequent reviews include thinking about sex a lot, problems in maintaining relationships, concerns about self-awareness, and his ability to deal with stress. His body would be found two days later by a group of horrified teenage boys who were playing in the area. The twisted child killer, now aged 39, took the youngster from a shopping centre along with friend Robert Thompson, before the baby's dead body by a railway track. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. Instead, they were the toddlers abductors and, soon, his killers. 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. He was just ten years old when he abducted two-year-old James Bulger from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, with his friend Robert Thompson. One of the investigators who talked to Thompson described him as street smart and clever.I dont know how he was doing at school, but he was switched on and he was trying to con me, trying very hard,the investigator said on Channel 5sLost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger. Children are seen by society as innocent and pure, without malice. ROBERT Thompson abducted, tortured and murdered two-year-old James Bulger alongside his partner in crime Jon Venables when they were just 10 years old. This caused various children to be identified as potential killers, with some parents even reporting their own kids. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Sentencing him to 40 months jail in 2018, Mr Justice Edis said: The children depicted were often very young and vulnerable, there is discernible pain and distress suffered.. In November 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables became the youngest convicted murderers in British history. Another investigator said Thompson "would cry whenever there would be an awkward situation," to avoid questioning. She turned to drink and fell into depression, as well as allegedly trying to take her own life with an overdose. 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.. I think Thompson was in charge, but they both attacked James. "The reality is that the case for varying the injunction has simply not been made.". In 2008, Jon Venables was given a formal warning for a drunken fight & was also arrested for a cocaine offence. Venables, however, is in prison after being convicted twice of child pornography offences. At 18 years old, Venables and Thompson were both released from a young offenders institution under licence in June 2001. As required by law, he will be eligible for another parole review in due course.. Robert is now openly gay and is in a long-term relationship. Despite positive behaviour and landing a job in jail, Parole officials ruled Venables was still not safe to be released. The youngster had no record of violence before he was found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger. But by 4:15 p.m., there was no sign of the boy and so he was quickly reported missing to the police. The report revealed that Jon had a new identity, a job in jail, and was a model prisoner. On 24 November 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were found guilty of the murder of James Bulger, becoming the youngest convicted murderers in the 20th century. With little to go on, Bulgers parents were suspects initially. Robert Thompson had a tough childhood and there were allegations of . The search ended two days after the disappearance when four children discovered Bulgers body on the railway track just 200 yards from the nearest police station. Robert Thompson was released in 2010. "Mr Venables had also experienced difficulties relating to employment. Venables and Thompson had brought blue paint stolen from the shopping mall and splashed it in Bulgers left eye. She turned to drink and fell into depression, as well as allegedly trying to take her own life with an overdose. 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 killer was 10-years-old when he and Robert Thompson murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, which is. His dad abandoned the family five years before Bulger's murder - leaving mum Ann devastated. A court order that is in place to prevent a person from being identified as Jon Venables or Robert Thompson has been amended, following an application from the Attorney General, Rt Hon. The child killer was released from a young offenders institution under licence in 2001 and has not re-offended since. They also said that neither boy was a sociopath. After murdering Bulger, Thompson and Venables placed his body on the railway track in an attempt to make his death look accidental. 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. Jon Venables pictured using a mobile phone, a questionable activity given his inability to maintain anonymity. The murder captivated the nation as people wondered what would motivate two 10-year-olds to abduct and murder a defenseless toddler. With evening approaching, an elderly woman saw Bulger crying, noticed his injuries, and approached the trio to enquire what was wrong. However, Venables was recalled to prison in November 2017 when he was caught with the sickening child abuse images once again. The computer was taken away and 57 indecent images of children over a 12-month period were found. The child killer was released from a. 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