Jon Venables could be freed by Christmas: James Bulger’s murderer will learn if he has won parole in week beginning December 11

Jamie Bulger’s killer Jon Venables will be told if he has won parole in the ‘week commencing the 11th December’ and could still be free before Christmas.

The child murderer has been informed that the Parole Board will make a decision public during that week after it was delayed earlier this week.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board confirmed that the decision will be ‘sometime during the week commencing the 11th December.’

It had been expected on the 28th of November.

Jamie’s family have also been told of the new decision date and are fearful that the warped murder will be quietly released during the festive season.

A source said: ‘The family are extremely anxious having been told the decision will be made in the run-up to Christmas.

Jon Venables (pictured) will be told if he has won parole in the ‘week commencing the 11th December’ and could still be free before Christmas

Venables, and Robert Thompson, now 41, were both aged 10 when they kidnapped, tortured and killed two-year-old James Bulger (pictured) before leaving his mutilated body by a railway line in Liverpool 30 years ago

‘It is always a difficult and poignant time for them as it brings their shattering loss into focus when others are celebrating with their families.

‘They are braced for bad news and fear that Venables will be back on the streets and will celebrate Christmas as a free man.’

Venables parole bid has already sparked controversy after it emerged that he skipped giving evidence during the two-day hearing to prevent ‘disproportionate emotional stress.’

Venables, and Robert Thompson, now 41, were both aged 10 when they kidnapped, tortured and killed two-year-old James before leaving his mutilated body by a railway line in Liverpool 30 years ago.

The toddler was snatched from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, on February 12 1993.

Both men were released in 2001 on licence for life, but Venables has been recalled to prison twice, in 2010 and 2017, having been found to be in possession of indecent images of children.

MailOnline revealed in September that the child murderer’s case would be heard on the 14th and 15th of November, but despite requests for it to be heard in public, the appeal was held behind closed doors.

The three person parole panel did not have the opportunity to cross examine Venables, but took evidence from a number of prison sources, including officers who have day-to-day contact with him, his probation officer and psychiatrists.

James’ mother Denise Fergus (pictured) previously said she endured ‘three decades of hell’ after Venables killed her son 

The toddler (pictured) was snatched from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, on February 12 1993

The panel heard heartrending victim impact statements made by Jamie’s mother Denise Fergus, 54 and father Ralph Bulger, 55, who both begged the Parole Board to reject Venables’ bid to be released on licence.

Denise Fergus implored Parole Board chiefs: ‘If you let him free, you could be ruining the lives of another family like ours.

‘When you look at Venables’ file just remember what he is capable of. He killed my son James, has reoffended time and time again and I have no doubt he would kill another child if he is released.’

The decision is doubly significant as it is likely to be the last Venables can appeal before new parole reforms proposed by former Justice Secretary Dominic Raab come before Parliament.

Under his parole reform plans, a dangerous, reoffending prisoner like Venables would never go free.

The Victims and Prisoners Bill will make public safety the sole priority in considering the release of repeat offenders.

The child killers were convicted of murder in November 1993 and detained indefinitely. The pair were released aged 18 in 2001 after just eight years, and were given new identities. Thompson (pictured) has not reoffended. But Venables was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images on his PC

Currently, the rights of inmates have more weight when making such decisions.

Before the decision to make the parole hearing private was announced, Ralph Bulger told The Sun: ‘If the Justice Secretary is serious on reform then he must allow me to be present at Venables’s parole hearing, just as I was at his Old Bailey hearing.

‘I want Venables to hear why I believe he should have his parole denied. For too long, victims and families have been ignored while authorities put the so-called rights of dangerous criminals first.’

The parole decision can be scrutinised by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, who under new powers has the right to ask the Parole Board to reconsider any decision to release Venables.

If released, Venables has life-long anonymity given to him by the courts, meaning the public will not know where the killer is relocated.

He would be under strict licence conditions, including severe restrictions on his movement and who he can contact. It is possible that Venables could also be made to wear an ankle tag.

James’ brother Michael Fergus, 29, said earlier this year that even after three decades he will never forgive the killers, adding that Venables must be kept behind bars.

Mr Fergus was born eight months after the tragedy, and though he never got to meet his brother, he has grown up with the impacts of those events.

He told the Sunday Express: ‘My brother’s killers will never be forgiven. They took away my older brother who I never got to meet.’

He added: ‘They robbed me of my childhood, in a nutshell.’

Michael still lives close to his mother Denise, and her husband Stuart, in north west England.

Denise and James’ father Ralph divorced in 1995 as grief took its toll.

James, from Kirkby, was a month away from his third birthday when he was snatched by Venables and Thompson, tortured and brutally murdered.

The child killers were convicted of murder in November 1993 and detained indefinitely.

The pair were released aged 18 in 2001 after just eight years, and were given new identities.

Thompson has not reoffended. But Venables was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images on his PC.

He was turned down for parole in 2020 after serving his minimum 40 months.

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