Bulger Killer Jailed Over Child Porn Charges

One of the killers of toddler James Bulger has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to downloading and distributing child pornography.

Jon Venables, 27, appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink over allegations that he downloaded 57 indecent photographs of children between February 2009 and February 2010. He also admitted distributing three indecent photographs of children in February 2010 and distributing 42 images in February 2008.

He was also banned from using a computer or the internet for five years and was will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years upon his release.

Jon Venables was ten-years-old when he and Robert Thompson murdered two-year-old James in Bootle, Merseyside.

Both boys were jailed for life in 1994, but were released on lifelong licence in 2001 and given new identities.

The court heard that Venables had contacted his probation officer over fears that his identity had been discovered. When the officers arrived at his home, Venables was attempting to delete files from his computer and remove his hard drive. He was then taken to a police station, along with the computer, and the images, which ranged between level one and level four - the second most serious category of child pornography - were discovered.

The court also heard that Venables had posed as a 35-year-old woman with an eight-year daughter who she abused and offered to sell access to, in online communications.

Prosecutors said that Venables' computer had indicated he had an "extensive history" of searching for and downloading images of children.

A statement made by Venables which was read to the court said that he was "genuinely ashamed" of his actions.

The judge said it would be wrong for Venables' sentence to be increased because of his previous crime, but he said that he would not be automatically freed after serving half of his jail term. Instead, the Parole Board will decide when he will be released.

(KMcA)