Jon Venables, one of the two men convicted as children for the murder of two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, is facing a new parole hearing anticipated for late 2025 or 2026. The hearing will determine whether he can be safely released from prison after more than three decades in custody, following multiple recalls for child sexual abuse material.
The Parole Board has confirmed that an oral hearing will take place behind closed doors. It is a mandatory review triggered by the Secretary of State for Justice, not a request initiated by Venables himself. James Bulger’s mother, Denise Fergus, has been granted permission to observe the proceedings under recent victim rights reforms.
Venables, now 43, has been denied release by the Parole Board in previous reviews, most recently in December 2023, when officials ruled he still posed a severe risk to children and might reoffend. The outcome of the upcoming hearing is expected to generate significant public and political attention.
What Did Jon Venables Do? The 1993 James Bulger Murder
- Crime: Tortured and murdered two-year-old James Bulger in Liverpool, February 1993
- Sentence: Life imprisonment, minimum tariff set at 8 years after legal challenge
- Current Status: Facing parole hearing in 2025/2026; remains in custody
- Key Issue: Repeated rehabilitation failures and recidivism related to child sexual abuse material
On 12 February 1993, Jon Venables, then aged 10, joined Robert Thompson, also 10, in abducting James Bulger from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside. They led the toddler nearly two and a half miles to a railway embankment, where they tortured and killed him before leaving his body on the tracks.
The abduction was captured on grainy CCTV footage, which became one of the most recognisable images in modern British criminal history. Venables and Thompson were arrested days later and convicted of murder on 24 November 1993 at Preston Crown Court.
Who was Robert Thompson and what was his role?
Robert Thompson was the other 10-year-old convicted alongside Venables. Both were found to have played an active role in the abduction and killing. The trial judge described their actions as “unparalleled evil and barbarity”. Thompson and Venables were the youngest convicted murderers in the UK in the 20th century.
Where did the murder of James Bulger happen?
The abduction began at the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside. The murder took place on a railway embankment near the Walton Lane railway line in Liverpool. James’s body was found two days later, on 14 February 1993.
Is Jon Venables Up for Parole in 2025? Latest Hearing Status
The Parole Board has directed an oral hearing to review Venables’ case for release. Reports from early 2026 indicated the hearing was expected to occur “next month” from that time, but delays due to Venables challenging the presence of James Bulger’s parents pushed the earliest expected date to September 2025. The exact date has not yet been confirmed by the Parole Board.
The hearing will be held in private, ruled the Chair of the Parole Board, citing the need to protect Venables’ lifelong anonymity order. His current identity must remain secret to prevent vigilante attacks. Denise Fergus, however, has been approved to observe the proceedings, marking a first under new rules allowing victims at private hearings.
Venables is expected to refuse to attend the hearing if the Bulger family submits impact statements in his presence, according to media reports. The family has been notified of the upcoming review.
Key insights on the parole hearing
- Venables, now 43, has been in custody for over 30 years.
- He was convicted alongside Robert Thompson, both aged 10 at the time.
- Venables was granted a new identity after release in 2001 but was recalled to prison multiple times for possessing indecent images of children.
- The 2026 parole hearing is the latest in a series of reviews; previous attempts at release were denied.
- Public and political pressure remains high against any future release.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jon Venables |
| Date of birth | 1990 (exact date protected) |
| Crime | Murder of James Bulger (12 February 1993) |
| Conviction date | 24 November 1993 |
| Sentence | Life imprisonment, minimum term reduced to 8 years by Law Lords, extended on recall |
| Current age | 43 (as of 2025) |
| Parole hearing | Oral hearing anticipated for 2025/2026 |
| Recall offenses | Possession of child sexual abuse material (2009, 2018) |
The case set a precedent for juvenile sentencing. In 1997, the House of Lords ruled that the Home Secretary could not set minimum tariffs for young offenders, a decision that led to Venables’ original 15-year tariff being reduced to 8 years. This judgment remains a key reference in UK legal history for the separation of judicial and executive powers.
Why Is Jon Venables Still in Prison? Rehabilitation and Risk
Venables was originally released on life licence in 2001 after serving eight years. A 2000 psychiatric evaluation had initially deemed him a “trivial” risk to the public with “very high” chances of successful rehabilitation. However, subsequent events contradicted that assessment.
In 2009, Venables was recalled to prison after police found indecent images of children on his computer during an investigation into a separate matter. He was released again in 2010 but recalled a second time in 2018 for a similar offence involving child sexual abuse material. Since then, he has remained in custody.
The Parole Board reviewed his case in 2020 and 2023, concluding on both occasions that he had failed to address what experts described as “sexual preoccupation” and lacked honesty with probation officers. The December 2023 decision stated he still posed a severe risk to children and could reoffend if released.
What are the failings in the rehabilitation of Jon Venables?
Independent journalists and legal analysts have pointed to a lack of transparency around the treatment programmes Venables received after his initial release. The 2000 psychiatric report appears to have underestimated the complexity of his psychological needs, and subsequent parole reviews have highlighted his difficulty engaging honestly with supervision.
The Parole Board has repeatedly determined that Venables presents an ongoing risk to children. His inability to complete or meaningfully engage with treatment programs addressing sexual offending has been cited as a key factor in the denial of previous release applications. The upcoming hearing will weigh this against any progress made in custody.
Why Was Jon Venables Given a New Identity?
Upon their release in 2001, both Venables and Thompson were granted new identities by the High Court. The lifelong anonymity order was put in place to protect their lives from vigilante attacks. The judge ruled that if their new names were made public, they would face a real risk of serious harm or death.
The reporting restrictions remain in full effect today. During the current parole hearing, Venables is referred to only by his original name, and his current alias is not disclosed. The Chair of the Parole Board specifically cited the need to protect this anonymity as the reason for keeping the hearing behind closed doors.
Venables is now 43 years old. His exact date of birth and current location are protected by court order. Media reports have described him as living under a fully sealed new identity, with strict conditions attached to any period of supervised release.
What happened to Robert Thompson’s identity?
Robert Thompson also received a new identity when he was released in June 2001. Unlike Venables, Thompson has not been reported to have reoffended since his release. He has lived quietly under his new identity, with no recent reports of parole hearings or legal issues. His current whereabouts and alias remain protected by the same lifelong anonymity order.
What Happened to Robert Thompson? Comparison of Both Killers
The contrast between the two killers since their release has been stark. Thompson, now also 43, has maintained a low profile without public controversy. He has not been the subject of any known parole hearings or criminal investigations since 2001.
Venables, in contrast, has been recalled to prison twice. His repeated possession of child sexual abuse material has made him a continuing focus of public outrage and media attention. The Parole Board has assessed him as posing a risk that is very different from Thompson’s, largely due to his failure to engage with rehabilitation programmes.
Both men remain on life licences, meaning they can be recalled to prison at any time if they breach conditions. However, only Venables appears to have faced such recalls. The question of whether both are still in prison is therefore nuanced: Thompson has been living in the community under his new identity for over two decades without incident.
How does the UK parole system treat child killers?
The UK Parole Board operates under strict statutory guidelines. For offenders serving life sentences, including those convicted of murder as children, release is only granted if the Board is satisfied that the risk to the public is manageable in the community. Any release is subject to lifelong conditions, and offenders can be recalled at any time.
The case of Venables and Thompson is exceptional because of their age at the time of the crime and the intense public scrutiny surrounding it. The Parole Board has faced criticism from some victims’ rights advocates who argue that the system protects offenders’ identities at the expense of transparency.
Timeline of Key Events in the Jon Venables Case
- 12 February 1993 – James Bulger is abducted, tortured, and murdered by Venables and Thompson.
- 24 November 1993 – Both are convicted of murder at Preston Crown Court.
- 1994 – Home Secretary sets a minimum tariff of 15 years, later overturned.
- June 1997 – House of Lords rules tariffs should be set by judiciary, not Home Secretary.
- 2001 – Venables released on life licence with a new identity.
- 2009 – Recalled to prison for possessing indecent images of children.
- 2010 – Released again after Parole Board decision.
- 2018 – Recalled again for similar offenses involving child sexual abuse material.
- 2020 – Parole Board denies release, citing ongoing risk.
- 13 January 2026 – BBC reports that the next parole hearing is scheduled.
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About the Parole Hearing
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Venables and Thompson were convicted of James Bulger’s murder in 1993. | The exact date of the upcoming parole hearing (only “late 2025 or 2026” known). |
| Venables has been recalled to prison twice for child sexual abuse material. | Whether the Parole Board will grant release again. |
| A parole hearing is scheduled for late 2025 or 2026. | Venables’ current location or alias (protected by court order). |
| Denise Fergus has been approved to observe the hearing. | Thompson’s current status (no recent public updates available). |
| The hearing will be held in private. | The specific evidence to be presented at the hearing beyond known risk assessments. |
Broader Context: Legal Precedent and Public Impact
The case of Venables and Thompson set a major legal precedent in the UK. In 1997, the House of Lords ruled that the Home Secretary could not set the minimum tariff for young offenders convicted of murder, a decision that fundamentally changed the relationship between executive and judicial powers in sentencing. The judgment remains a key document in UK constitutional law.
The ongoing debate around rehabilitation versus public safety is sharply focused by Venables’ case. His repeated reoffending after release has raised difficult questions about the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes for juveniles convicted of serious violent crimes. The Parole Board’s risk assessment process has also come under scrutiny, with critics arguing that the system has failed to adequately protect children from a known offender.
Public opinion remains strongly opposed to any future release for Venables. Campaigners and victims’ rights advocates have voiced frustration that the anonymity order prevents full public scrutiny of the parole process. Denise Fergus, James Bulger’s mother, has been a vocal campaigner for greater victim involvement in parole hearings.
Sources and Key Statements
“Child killer Jon Venables is set to have his latest bid for freedom heard by the Parole Board.”
– BBC News, 13 January 2026
“On 24 November 1993 two young boys, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, were convicted of the murder of a two year old boy, James Bulger.”
– UK Parliament Publications (1997 judgment)
“The failings in the rehabilitation of Jon Venables… result of a lengthy inquiry into his further offending.”
– David James Smith, investigative journalist (Substack)
Summary: What to Expect Next
The Parole Board will announce a decision after the upcoming oral hearing. If release is granted, it will likely come with strict, lifelong conditions. Any decision will be met with intense media scrutiny and public debate, and further appeals or judicial reviews are possible if the decision is contested by any party. The case remains one of the most sensitive and closely watched in UK criminal justice history. For a detailed timeline and updates, refer to the Jon Venables parole hearing timeline and status and further reading on Jon Venables’ new identity and current status.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Jon Venables now?
Jon Venables is 43 years old as of 2025. He was born in 1990, though his exact date of birth is protected by court order.
Has Jon Venables been released?
No. As of the latest reports in early 2026, he remains in prison awaiting a parole hearing. He has not been granted release.
What happened to Robert Thompson?
Robert Thompson, the other killer, was also released in 2001 with a new identity. Unlike Venables, he has not been reported to have reoffended.
Why was Jon Venables given a new identity?
To protect his life from vigilante attacks after release. Both killers were given lifelong anonymity orders by the High Court in 2001.
Is Jon Venables still a danger to the public?
The Parole Board has deemed him a risk due to his reoffending with child sexual abuse images, which has led to his repeated recall to prison.
When will the parole board decide on Jon Venables?
A decision is expected after the oral hearing, anticipated for late 2025 or 2026. No exact date has been confirmed by the Parole Board.
What did Jon Venables do to James Bulger?
Along with Robert Thompson, he abducted two-year-old James Bulger from a shopping centre in Bootle, led him to a railway embankment, and tortured and murdered him.
How long did Jon Venables serve in prison?
He served eight years initially before release in 2001. He was then recalled in 2009 and again in 2018, and remains in custody as of 2025.
Can the public attend the parole hearing?
No. The hearing will be held in private to protect Venables’ anonymity. Only James Bulger’s mother, Denise Fergus, has been approved to observe.
What is the current status of the James Bulger case?
The case remains legally active due to Venables’ ongoing parole reviews. James Bulger’s family continues to campaign for victim rights in the justice system.
Freddie Harry Cooper Bennett is a staff writer for DailyPressUK.co.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Whitmore and UK Managing Editor Eleanor Grant, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.