BULGER KILLER OUT FOR XMAS

Jamie monster Venables bids for festive freedom

JAMES Bulger’s killer wants to be freed from prison for Christmas, The Daily Star Sunday can reveal.

Paedophile Jon Venables has applied for special leave from jail over the festive period.

All prisoners – including lifers – can apply to be let out over Christmas providing they meet certain criteria.

A prison source said: “Venables wants to get out of prison as soon as possible.

“He will apply for Christmas leave and early parole – anything to get himself away from other inmates.”

Up to 1,200 prisoners – including convicted murderers – are granted “release on temporary licence” for a five-day period over Christmas every year. The leave is only granted to cons who are no longer regarded as a threat to society, and who are nearing the end of their sentences. By Christmas Venables, pictured right, will have served 13 months of a three-year sentence for possessing child pornography. He will be eligible to apply for parole next year.

The Daily Star Sunday has learned that the child killer – who has a new identity – rarely leaves his cell. He suffers from anxiety and depression, and has a special team of guards who monitor his security.

Prison officers believe it is only a matter of time before other inmates discover Venables’ real identity and he is attacked. But jail sources say that despite his crimes, he is regarded as a model prisoner. The source added: “Venables is treated as someone who was found guilty of child porn. He is not treated as a killer because he has done his time for that sentence.

“He is a loner who rarely associates with other prisoners.

“Only a few members of staff know his real identity.”

Venables, along with Robert Thompson, abducted, tortured and killed two-year-old James, pictured left, in Liverpool in 1993 when they were both aged 10.

It was three days before the toddler’s battered body was found on a railway line.

The pair had thrown stones and bricks at James, and kicked and stamped on him before finally dropping an iron bar on the defenceless tot.

They hid his body under bricks so that the first train to come along cut his body in two, but he was already dead by then.

The pair were jailed indefinitely, but were released on licence in 2001 after serving eight years and were both given new identities. Venables was recalled to prison last November after he was caught with more than 1,000 indecent images of children.

In February, he pleaded guilty to four counts – including owning 392 category A images, 148 category B and 630 category C pictures.

Appearing in court via video link, he also admitted having a paedophile manual on or before November 17 last year.

He was sentenced to 40 months.