James Bulger's mum speaks out as son's killer Jon Venables could be freed in MONTHS | The Sun

JAMES Bulger's mum has told how she's "frightened" at the prospect of killer Jon Venables being freed.

Venables, 40, has been granted a rare two-day parole hearing behind closed doors in November.

It means he could be out of jail by Christmas.

James' mum Denise Fergus told the Mirror: "Jon Venables is still one of the biggest dangers to this country. I have no doubt he will offend again if released.

"Hearing the news about my son's killer's parole is still shocking to me. He should never be allowed back on our streets."

Venables and Robert Thompson were 10 when they took James from his mum at a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in 1993.

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He was taken to rail tracks two miles away, tortured and beaten to death.

The boys were found guilty and jailed – but were handed new identities on their release in 2001.

However, Venables was arrested for affray in 2008 and spent the next 10 years in and out of prison.

Then, in 2018 he was jailed after he admitted to possessing more than 1,000 indecent images of children.

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A source told The Sun in June the killer was said to have feared he would never be freed from prison as his Parole Board hearing kept being delayed.

However, the Board has confirmed a hearing will take place.

A spokesperson said: "An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Jon Venables and is scheduled to take place in November 2023. Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

"A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

"Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.

"The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."

Denise has met Justice Secretary Alex Chalk to voice her opposition to Venables’ ever being released.

Venables is held at a category-A jail.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Dangerous prisoners undergo a strict assessment by the Parole Board to determine if they are safe to release and the Justice Secretary can submit a view to them for consideration.

“The Justice Secretary’s first priority is keeping the public safe which is why he is giving this case his close personal attention.”

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