Bulger killer in prison ‘on child porn charges’

The reason why Jon Venables, one of the killers of James Bulger, was returned to prison - as reported here last week - is that he committed child porn offences, it has been alleged. Venables is also believed to have repeatedly revealed his true identity to members of the public in the nine years since he was released from jail on licence.

The Sunday Mirror printed the allegations of child porn following a week of claims from the tabloid press and Bulger’s mother that the public had a right to know why Venables had been recalled to prison.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said that Venables faces "extremely serious allegations", but has refused to elaborate on the grounds that it might "undermine the integrity of the criminal justice process".

Investigators suspected there might have been a sexually abusive dimension to the abduction and murder of two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, but it was never properly established because Venables and Robert Thompson, both aged 10 at the time, turned hysterical whenever this line of questioning was brought up.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Venables has been transferred to the hospital wing of the prison where he is being held due to his rapid mental deterioration. He is being kept in isolation because of his compulsion to reveal his true identity to other people, putting him at increased risk of attack.

The Observer quotes an unnamed source as saying Venables, who has turned to heavy drinking and drug use, is in a state of "persistent state of self-disclosure" which has put him at risk of confrontations with members of the public during his time on conditional release.

Venables will appear at a parole board hearing within 28 days, where it will be decided whether he will face trial on the new charges. ·