Jon Venables, one of the killers of toddler James Bulger, is reportedly too frightened to attend his own parole hearing if his victim's family is present.
A History of Violence and Recall to Prison
Venables, who was just ten years old when he and Robert Thompson abducted and murdered two-year-old James in Merseyside back in 1993, has been in and out of prison since his initial release in 2001.
He was recalled to jail in 2010 and again in 2017, both times for offences relating to indecent images of children.
The killer is scheduled to appear before the parole board once more next month in another attempt to secure his release.
Parents' Right to Attend Causes Fear
James Bulger's parents, Denise Fergus and Ralph Bulger, have won the right to be present at the crucial parole hearing to deliver their victim impact statements directly to the panel.
According to a source speaking to The Sun, the prospect of facing them has left Venables petrified.
The source stated, "Denise and her husband Stuart, plus James’s dad, Ralph, have every right to be there. But Venables has told officials there is no way he will attend if they are there."
They added that this refusal to face the hearing could significantly damage his chances of being freed, suggesting that a no-show would likely harm his application.
A Pattern of Failed Parole Bids
This is not Venables' first attempt at parole. His requests were previously denied in December 2023 and in 2020.
On the last occasion, officials ruled that the notorious murderer still posed a risk to the public and had not been honest with his probation officers.
Denise Fergus spoke bravely to The Mirror in May about her determination to attend, saying she wanted to look her son's killer "in the eyes and remind him I’m still here".
She described the ongoing parole process as "mental torture," questioning what could have changed since his last rejection given his lifelong record of reoffending.
Venables and Thompson were both convicted of James Bulger's murder in 1993 and received life sentences. After his release in 2001, Venables' freedom was short-lived, leading to his subsequent recalls for possessing child abuse images.
