Jon Venables, who killed James Bulger, will remain in prison following a parole board decision

The UK Parole Board has refused to release Jon Venables, who in 1993, together with Robert Thompson, killed two-year-old James Bulger. Venables himself said he was not seeking release, and almost all experts concluded that he should remain in custody.

Otabek YusupovFirst published on tafs uz 9 November 2026 at 20:162 min read

The key facts

Jon Venables himself told the board that he was not seeking release and was prepared to continue working on himself in prison
Of the four specialists involved, only one considered release possible
Venables has twice had his licence revoked — in 2010 and 2017 — for possessing indecent images of children

The parole board denied release

Jon Venables, who in 1993, together with Robert Thompson — both then aged 10 — abducted two-year-old James Bulger from a shopping centre in Bootle (Merseyside), tortured and killed him, will remain in prison. The decision on his latest review, which was held in private, reports BBC News. An unexpected detail of the proceedings was that the initiative to stay behind bars came from Venables himself: at the start of the hearing he submitted a statement in which, according to an excerpt from the hearing's conclusions quoted by the BBC, he acknowledged the need for further work in custody on his propensity to offend and 'did not seek release'.

What the board took into account

The panel considered evidence from probation officers in prison and in the community, three psychologists and a psychiatrist. All but one concluded that Venables should remain in custody. Panel members noted doubts about how well he would cooperate with probation staff if released and 'how open and honest he would be under supervision', and also pointed to 'the need for further work in custody on his sexual interests'. At the same time, according to the excerpt from the conclusions, the professionals assessed the 'long-standing and extreme remorse' expressed by Venables as genuine and sincere. The board's final conclusion: it is 'not satisfied that Venables is suitable for release'. The panel also heard a personal statement from the victim's family, which, it is noted, clearly conveyed the devastating consequences of the crime and of Venables's offences.

A history of releases and recalls

Venables was released on licence in July 2001, but in February 2010 was returned to prison after indecent images of children were found on his computer. In August 2013 he was released again, and in November 2017 he was recalled for the same offence. In September 2020 his case was considered once more by parole judges. Thus, the current decision continues a series of reviews in which the same circumstances were each time the grounds for returning him to prison — and now, additionally, the prisoner's own position, as he is not seeking release.