Jon Venables ‘makes new parole bid’ and could be freed by end of year

James Bulger's family are 'wracked with fear'

Venables, who is now 42, was last refused parole in December 2023 after the panel deciding declared that he still posed a risk.

A source told The Sun: "It’s very worrying that the process has started all over again.

"How many chances does he need before they throw away the key? The family are wracked with fear, and who can blame them?"

Venables and his accomplice, Robert Thompson, were given life sentences in 1993 after snatching toddler James Bulger and brutally murdering him.

They were released on life-long licences in 2001 however in 2010 Venables was arrested once again after child abuse images were found on his computer.

He was freed in 2013 before being recalled to prison again over more images.