UK toddler killer admits having child abuse images

Image
AFP London
Last Updated : Feb 07 2018 | 6:55 PM IST
One of Britain's most notorious killers, who in 1993 murdered two-year-old James Bulger when he was only 10 himself, today admitted having more than a thousand indecent images of children.
Jon Venables served eight years in prison for the torture and murder of the toddler in the northwest English city of Liverpool, before being released with a new identity in 2001.
He pleaded guilty on Wednesday to four counts at a hearing at England's Old Bailey central criminal court in London.
Venables admitted to having 392 category A images -- the most extreme -- 148 category B and 630 category C images, and to having a "paedophile manual".
It is the second time he has been convicted of child pornography offences, having been jailed for two years in 2010 after pleading guilty to downloading and distributing child pornography.
Bulger's father Ralph and mother Denise Fergus were in court to hear the guilty plea.
Bulger's mother Denise Fergus earlier said that the latest crimes proved "beyond any doubt what a vile, perverted psychopath he has always been."
In a case that shocked the country, Venables and his friend Robert Thompson, who was also 10 years old at the time, abducted Bulger from a shopping centre.
The little boy's mutilated body was found two days later on a nearby railway line.
The pair were granted lifelong anonymity upon their release from jail in 2001, for fear of reprisals. Anyone who identifies them could face up to two years in jail.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Feb 07 2018 | 6:55 PM IST

Next Story