James Bulger killer Jon Venables has parole bid REJECTED as ‘public would not be safe’

The Parole Board summary says: “After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and on licence, and the evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.

“It noted the risks…. doubted Mr Venables’ ability to be open and honest with professionals, and concluded that there remained a need for him to address outstanding levels of risk, and to develop his relationship with his probation officer. By law, Mr Venables will be eligible for another parole review in due course.”

WATCH NOW: Ray Addison provides the latest on the Venables hearing

Venables, 41, who was just 10 when he brutally tortured and killed tiny two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, will now spend at least another two years in prison after parole chiefs deemed he was still a danger to society.

But the killer, who has returned to prison twice since being released for James’ murder, could spend even longer in jail if new plans to keep dangerous, reoffending criminals indefinitely are passed.

Today Kym Morris, a spokeswoman for James’ mum Denise Fergus, said: “This is the day Denise has waited for years. The prospect of him coming out was terrifying as we knew he’d harm again. This is a day we celebrate and we thank the parole board for making the correct decision.”

Despite submissions from justice secretary Alex Chalk and his predecessor Dominic Raab that Venables was still a danger to society, Venables was still granted an unprecedented two-day hearing, which told place behind closed doors earlier this month because it “would harm his mental health”.

But after arguing that the hearing should be private, he failed to show up for the hearing – meaning all evidence was read to the parole board.

After almost two weeks deliberating, they decided Venables was still to much of a danger to be released – and was sent straight back to prison.

He can re-apply for parole in two years – but may never get the chance new justice reforms are brought in that mean repeat serious offenders will stay in jail.

Venables shocked the nation when he and Robert Thompson barbarically murdered James after snatching James from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside in 1993.

Both were released after less than eight years in a reoffenders institute. But despite Thompson, also 41, not believed to have reoffended, Venables has been recalled to prison twice for making sexual images of children.

The Government is hoping to get the new Victims and Prisoners bill through by early next year – meaning any justice secretary will have a final say on whether repeat offenders are allowed to be released from prison.

More to follow…