Jon Venables, who abducted and killed James Bulger alongside Robert Thompson in 1993, is reportedly ‘scared’ to attend his own parole hearing

Jon Venables was charged with the murder of James Bulger on February 20, 1993(Image: PA)

James Bulger’s killer Jon Venables is reportedly too scared to attend a parole hearing if the murdered toddler’s family is present. Venables is expected to make his latest bid for parole next month, eight years after he was last recalled to prison.

However, the murderer is said to be petrified of seeing James’ parents, Denis Fergus and Ralph Bulger, who have won the right to attend the parole hearing and give their impact statements.

Venables has twice been denied parole since he was last recalled to prison in 2017, reports the Mirror.

Officials ruled the notorious murderer posed a risk and had not been honest with probation bosses in December 2023 and he was also refused parole in 2020.

A source, speaking to The Sun, claimed the evil killer won’t be at his parole hearing if the parents of his victim are also there.

They said: “Denise and her husband Stuart, plus James’ dad, Ralph, have every right to be there. But Venables has told officials there is no way he will attend if they are there.

James Bulgers mum Denise Fergus.(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Miiror)

“This just goes to show what a manipulative coward Venables is. But the good thing is that a no-show from him will likely harm his chances of being freed.”

Brave Denise Fergus, speaking exclusively to our sister paper the Mirror in May, said she wanted to be at the parole hearing to look her son’s killer “in the eyes and remind him I’m still here”.Denise said: “This is mental torture for me. It was only December 2023 that his application was denied as he was not deemed fit for society.

“What has changed? He has a lifelong record of reoffending. When will we ever get respite from this? It makes it all flood back.”

Venables was 10 in 1993 when he and Robert Thompson abducted and killed two-year-old James in Merseyside.

The pair took the young boy from a shopping centre, tortured him and left his mutilated body on a railway line in Liverpool.

Despite their young ages, both were convicted in 1993 and each handed a life sentence.

Little James Bulger was only 2 when he was tortured and killed by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson(Image: ITV/PA)

In 2001, Venables was released after eight years in youth custody, however just nine years later he was found with child abuse images on his computer and recalled to jail.

He was freed in 2013, but once again had to be recalled in 2017 over further vile images. Despite only receiving a 40-month prison term, his past three parole bids have failed.

The former Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is previously said to have told James’ parents Denise and her ex-partner Ralph that she doesn’t want to see Venables freed.