One of the killers of UK toddler James Bulger was tonight back behind bars after breaching the conditions of his release from prison.
Jon Venables, 27, who with Robert Thompson abducted and murdered James in February 1993, was released from custody in 2001, but he has been recalled following the breach, a British ministry of justice spokeswoman said.
She added: “We can confirm that Jon Venables has been recalled to custody following a breach of licence conditions.
“Offenders on licence are subject to strict conditions; if they breach those conditions they are subject to immediate recall.
“There is a worldwide injunction in place that prohibits any reporting including reporting on the internet, that could identify him or his location.”
Details of the nature of the breach were not released.
Venables and Thompson were aged 10 when they embarked on a crime that stunned the world.
On February 13, 1993, they abducted James from a shopping centre and killed him on a railway line.
The toddler’s battered body was found by children playing on a freight railway line 200 yards from Walton Lane police station, Liverpool, and more than two miles from the Strand shopping centre.
Days later Venables and Thompson were arrested in connection with the murder of James, and later charged. They were the youngest to be charged with murder in the 20th century.
In November that year, they were convicted following a 17-day trial at Preston Crown Court and ordered to be detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure, the normal substitute sentence for life imprisonment when the offender is a juvenile.
PA