James Bulger killer jailed for having 'paedophile manual'

One of the killers of UK toddler James Bulger has been jailed for 40 months after pleading guilty to possessing more than 1000 indecent images of children.

Jon Venables, 36 - who was 10 when he murdered the two-year-old boy in 1993 – admitted possessing child abuse material and a “paedophile manual” at a London court, reports The Guardian.

In a murder that shocked the world, Venables and his friend Robert Thompson, also aged 10, killed and tortured James in Liverpool 25 years ago.

READ MORE: James Bulger mum in extraordinary confession

READ MORE: Plea for James Bulger killer's trial to be held in secret

READ MORE: UK hunts exposers of James Bulger killlers' identities

Venables served eight years for the crime and was released on licence in 2001.

After their jail terms, the pair were given lifelong anonymity under new identities for their protection.

But Venables returned to prison last November after he was caught with the images.

He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey court on Wednesday to possessing the indecent photos and having a paedophile manual.

In sentencing, Justice Edis told him: “This case is unique because when you were 10 years old, you took part in the brutal murder and torture of James Bulger. That was a crime which revolted the nation and which continues to do so, even after the 25 years that have passed since it happened.”

He added how it was significant, given Venables’ background, that many of the images were of crimes against young boys.

It is the second time he has been returned to prison over child abuse images.

In 2010, Venables was sent back to prison after pleading guilty t charges of downloading and distributing them.

In a TV documentary to be aired Thursday in the UK, James’ mother, Denise Fergus, says her son’s killers evaded punishment.

“I’ve never had justice for James,” she told ITV’s James Bulger: A Mother’s Story.

“I never said, ‘Lock them up and throw away the key’. I thought doing a proper sentence in a proper prison would be justice for James. But that never happened.”