He wore his dark hair short, almost a crew cut, which accentuated his ample forehead and blunt nose. Real bottom of the gut stuff, like an animal. I thought he was all right, Jon said of Robert during his police interviews. He once came to me crying saying the other boys were picking on him, trying to steal his bike.'. When social workers came round, they did so to see his sister and his brother, who had learning difficulties and was receiving special education. Any anxiety or animosity he might have felt was manifested largely through his school-aged thumb-sucking, a habit which elicited titters and taunts from the neighborhood children. Susan Venabless bent body shrank deeper into itself. 'In this state it is quite painful to see a normal relationship between mother and child. On one occasion one of Anns sons let his real name slip at school and they had to move almost at once, says. 'They were just your average scruff - like the rest of us.'. Robert passed this down the line bullying his eight-year-old brother into playing truant. Although Susan couldnt recall any dramatic change in Jons behavior, his teachers there expressed some concern that Jon had become upset and difficult following the separation. Yes, these things are important, but trust. They were in the Strand shopping centre in Bootle when the brother wandered off. One of the new works by Banksy, appears to show a 1950s housewife, wearing a classic blue pinny and yellow washing up gloves, with a swollen eye and a missing tooth seemingly shoving her male partner into a chest freezer, the piece is set on a white wall backdrop in Kent. David James Smith, who wrote a book about the Bulger case, The Sleep Of Reason, and stayed in touch with Ann Thompson afterwards. Pictures; Inside the Guardian; Guardian Weekly . Susan Venables is on Facebook. Not surprisingly, Ann had also attempted suicide in the same manner, some months before. In Crosbies corner shop Ian, the next oldest to Robert, was able to tot up the shopping in his mind before the cash register rang up the total. The shock in the city was plain to see, but it wasn't just in Liverpool that people stared at the CCTV pictures of the boy holding James' hand, while another led the way to the exit of the shopping centre where a frantic Denise Bulger would have been desperately looking for her child. After a while the boys became used to it. Meanwhile, Thompson has not re-offended since his release, and is believed to be in a long-term relationship with a man who knows who he really is. At the time Ann Thompson pleaded for her son to be left alone and revealed that she and her other children had been forced to move house nine times in eight years. Moments later, we were told, Jon Venables uttered the words, We did it. Since his 14-year-old brother, Phillip , had already tried to stab him, the social services agreed. She said that Jon was always "loving, caring, thoughtful and considerate . From their point of view it makes perfect sense. He didn't want to hurt James. The bird was taken to the vets where they are nursing it back to health. Truanting, or 'sagging off', had become a way of life for Robert. his killers were just 10 years old and attention focused on their upbringing and dysfunctional home life. The end of the court case was not the end of course. Robert would give Jon presents of stolen objects: trolls, of course, toy terrapins, sweets. Absence of a male role model is increasingly being explored - by both left and right - as one of the main reasons why today's boys and young men are going wrong; why 90 per cent of indictable offences are committed by men. Thompson & Venebales. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. ", Children accused of a crime are usually granted anonymity, but at the end of the trial the judge allowed both to be named, "because the public interest overrode the interest of the defendants.". Shame? re bz. For me, though, it is Susan and Neil Venables who stay most in my memory of that day. There is, like, a little paint factory. As a new documentary is set to air on ITV, the haunting words of Jon Venables' parents have resurfaced. Teachers later reported that whereas the boys were manageable when separated, together their behavior worsened dramatically. Its beyond me," one viewer tweeted. "In order that justice can be done, no further details are being released at this stage and the proceedings are subject to reporting restrictions.". Thompson was inscrutable in the dock as we heard his voice for the first time. He took a jar of paracetamol. View the profiles of people named Susan Venables. One woman asked how James had injured his forehead. ', The closest either boy came to offering an explanation was when Jon was asked by police why he had taken James's shoe off by the railway tracks. What a horror it all was. The boys at Dyson Hall were the object of some envy among their mates because they were given tracksuits and trainers upon arrival and went on trips to Alton Towers. Neil Venables regarded himself as the Barry Norman of Merseyside - a film buff with a penchant for horror. On the 20 year anniversary of the murder of James Bulger, BBC Radio 5 Live's Shelagh Fogarty recalls the trial of his young killers. The left will make play of social deprivation, unemployment, bad housing and general inner-city rot. He is an old-fashioned crime and punishment man. But his comment sparked anger from viewers. Are they mad? Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? They pair was ordered to be detained at her majesty's pleasure - meaning indefinitely - but in 2001, a six-month review by the parole board found they were no longer a threat to public safety and they were released on life licence after serving just eight years. On November 24, 1993, the two boys, by then aged 11, became the youngest defendants to be sentenced for murder in a British court. After they became friends he initiated Jon into the delights of climbing into people's back gardens and the consequent thrill of being chased out by the owners. He would call people names and get them to chase him. Eventually, Bobby walked out on his family, but not before beating his wife one final time. . He didn't want to hurt James. gk. The bleached houses were peppered with burglar alarms, the shabby ones did not look worth the trouble. She initially enrolled the two younger children in Broad Square Elementary, but it soon became clear that her daughter was struggling to keep up with the schools curriculum. Mr Venables said it had never crossed their minds that the video pictures from the security cameras in the shopping centre from which James went missing showed their own son. Jon was also mad on computers. To be absolutely accurate, she had only one illusion. Kids fantasise about such things. He has had his holidays like everyone else. 'It was very dark and I shouted down, shouted his name. Mrs Thompson worked as an office cleaner until two years ago, when she got pregnant again by another man, who also left her. Three years ago, after his mother walloped him, he went to social services and asked them to put him in care. Mr Venables said that the two boys had played truant together four times before, adding that he caught them twice. James mother Denise Fergus has been saying this for a long time, but still we hoped that the boy who savaged a tiny child to death could become a man safe to be in our midst. Denise Fergus is the same age as me, a fact I only registered when I met her for the first time two weeks ago. "It is hard to take in really. But viewers were shocked when experts "defended" the 10-year-old murderers saying they made "an awful mistake". He is one of those children that if you told him to put his hand in the fire, he would. He was fearful, he was weak and he was provoked. Half way through the 1992-1993 school year, Robert had already racked up nearly 50 unauthorized absences, and was falling significantly behind in his schoolwork. Money was always a struggle, and she got through the first years drinking in Higson's Top House off St Mary's Lane. She claimed, however, that she was completely unaware of Jons erratic behaviors at school, had never seen any evidence to support them (such as cuts on his arms or holes in his socks), and dismissed the possibility that many of the occurrences cited by the teacher had ever taken place. His response couldn't have been more different as he sank into the oversized blazer he was wearing. It should certainly be moved up to 12; in some European countries it is 14," she said. They were intent on killing. Put bluntly, Jon Venables still gets a kick out of seeing small children suffer. As the paedophile killer pleaded guilty on Wednesday to possessing more than 1,000 indecent images of children and a "paedo manual" - his parents words on their son's involvement make disturbing reading. Forensic and pathology evidence was a huge challenge for everyone, not least the jury who were shown pictures of James' injuries. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (second left) and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack (second right) during a visit to the Port of Cromarty Firth, Invergordon, during a two day visit to Scotland to highlight the benefits of remaining in the United Kingdom as he seeks to counter Nicola Sturgeon's push for independence, King Charles reacts as he visits the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed in Scotland, There are only a handful of images of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, 'Jon was weak and was provoked': Parents of Jamie Bulger killers speak, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Some of the red brick houses were well-kept, others had torn net curtains and grubby windows. The Rt Reverend Glyn Webster lights a candle in front of the newly restored Lady Chapel East Window at All Saints North Street in York, one of thirteen stained glass windows from the church undergoing conservation work at Barley Studio, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary Pat Cullen on the picket line outside Great Ormond Street Hospital in London during a strike by nurses and ambulance staff, Britains former prime minister Liz Truss leaves her home on February 5, 2023 in London, England. qu fy. She would arrive at the secure unit with food parcels and is said to be proud of his achievements since the crime. The best photos of birds and other wildlife from around the world. She said that Jon was always "loving, caring, thoughtful and considerate . Architect Shahed Saleem in the Ramadan Pavilion 2023 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. That seems the very least they could face for what they did. has prompted a public outcry for an investigation into issues surrounding the case. what is the bite force of a baboon. yet, as Venables is back behind bars. Their. The case is doomed to be picked over by every faction within the caring professionals and politics. I know how I feel as a mother. This time we came together in shock and disbelief. Financially, the couple appeared to be functioning, but meanwhile, Susan was at the end of her rope with her eldest son, who, having become increasingly frustrated at his inability to communicate, had grown terribly unhappy and was having temper tantrums regularly. It is time to examine all this.". His body, defiled and broken in two by a train, two miles from where hed been taken, was foundtwo days later. Or they would mess around in shops, playing on computer games if Robert had his way, sliding on the polished floors if Jon had his. Jon Venables arrived at Walton St. Marys Church of England School a disrupted and attention-seeking boy, whose behavior was so bizarre at times that one of his teachers considered him to be emotionally unstable. Another time they were saucy and asked a sales girl if she stocked 'fishy nickers'. Mrs Thompson claimed she had been the victim of revenge attacks after her identity became known. Good people asked the boys if they were lost or urged them to take "their baby brother" home as he cried for his mummy. gl. Look at mine. Mrs Venables walked around the area for hours, searching for him. Jon's parents said they talked to their son about James after he was arrested, but had to stop. Thousands of members of Unison, Unite and the GMB unions are set to walk out across England and Wales on Monday as part of continued industrial action in the health service, Performers taking part in a parade involving costumes, lion dances and floats, during Chinese New Year celebrations in London, Everton fans hold up banners protesting against the board of directors during their Premier League match against West Ham at the London Stadium, A pair of swans fly over a frozen pond in Bushy Park in London, People take part in a demonstration in support of trans rights outside the UK Government Office in Edinburgh, A member of the Royal College of Nursing holds their dog whilst on the picket line outside Kings College Hospital in London, as nurses take industrial action over pay, The scene on the A39 Quantock Road in Bridgwater after a double-decker bus overturned in a crash involving a motorcycle, A man walks dogs in snowy conditions in a park in Hexham. These are the words of an officer who was in the police station when DCI Geoff MacDonald of Merseyside Police broke the news to Denise that James was dead. What happened to James Bulger? Gillespie, McNeilly, and Powell were sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years. It is just heartbreaking.". That's the thing that upsets me because obviously where I was standing poor little James must have been not. He was fearful of the other boy. Unemployment levels were more than twice the national average in Walton. Both had a need to attract attention, which they achieved through a host of petty rebellions. It seems likely that he was bullied. He gets upset. In some families this was the third generation to be unemployed. Robert said 'If you tell anybody I'll get my big brother to batter you up'. He would often have to stay in class at break times to catch up. He started with Liverpool, but by the time of the murder he had switched to Blackburn Rovers. Susan Venables Facebook: susan.venables.9 Lives in Mellor, Blackburn With Darwen, . We still think the same of him as we always have. Hyperactive children can't sit still all day,' Mrs Venables said. Money, or his family's lack of it, preyed on his mind. It is just heartbreaking.". They did. But I still kept him in if he was naughty or anything like that.'. But then, the whole of Robert's family was a bit like that - shunned, outcast, the butt of local criticism, and very well known to police. At Preston Crown Court a few months later, I was one of a handful of journalists given full access to the small courtroom for the trial of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, both now 11-years-old. Not really?. Jon was slim in build and taller than Robert, just over five feet. The most agonising thing about the whole case was that so many people had stopped them and questioned them. And in Lower Lane police station when he was being questioned about the murder she had to be told that her harsh words were inhibiting him from confessing. So much happened whilst I was there involving Jon. He also liked to scare old ladies by jumping out in front of their noses. xf fy. Forlorn hope, though. For his parents, the fact they were children was actually a cause for hope at that point. Both parents hope was that he would make something of his life and eventually find some peace. "In terms of knowing what the full consequences of your actions are, you are into older childhood or adolescence. Channel 5 is set to air a new two-part documentary that tells the definitive story of . They probably weren't out to kill someone, but they were probably out to ruin someone else's happiness. Both were banned from ever returning to Liverpool and given new identities at a reported cost of 1.5million. One police officer described how Jon Venables was so small, his legs were swinging in the air as he sat in the custody office. After a while he tried to commit suicide to get back in. His mother, Susan, attributed this behavior with peer pressure and hyperactivity, and put him on a special diet, though it did nothing to quell his frequent emotional outbursts. 'I walked round for a couple of hours trying to find them. He would steal objects that he neither needed nor wanted, then chuck them away in the street. King Charles III shakes hands with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky as he welcomes at Buckingham Palace, in London, ahead of an audience during his first visit to the UK since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I didnt connect the dots until much later on. and things like that is that he was frightened. But just as he was entering the school gates he met Jon and they decided to sag off together for the fourth - and final - time. "Throughout the conduct of the case there have been a number of issues that have been swept under the carpet. Lock him in it.'. Just having a bit of shade!! On many occasions, Susan was observed physically and verbally assaulting Jon. A day later, when James still hadnt been found, it was clear from CCTV footage that he had been taken by children. Between January and the day of the murder Robert had absconded 37 half days out of a possible 60 . In the mean time, Susan, finding her new living conditions insufferable, soon decided to move back in with Neil until she could find another place of her own. Among the list were several horror films, including one video in which the police took special interest: Child's Play 3, a film which carries the line 'Children are consumer trainees'. They said their son met Robert Thompson in September 1991, when Jon was transferred from another school. His mother especially has been a tower of strength, says the source. Thompson and Venables, now both 27 years old, are among only four individuals in the UK whose crimes are so notorious that they have been given lifelong anonymity. When the court was played Jon's taped descriptions of how they had truanted they simultaneously smiled. In any case, the couple drifted together, and in 1983, just fifteen months succeeding Jons birth, Susan gave birth to their third child, a daughter. The other boy, Robert Thompson, we are told is now abiding by the conditions of his life license since he was released 17 years ago, and is doing well. I cant believe people find excuses for these murderers. IN their interviews with the two boys, psychiatrists could find no clues to why the boys acted so violently. "I think my son's concentration wasn't the way it should have been, but he wasn't slow. He has been educated. 'America is the land of shopping malls. 'I can't read hard words,' he said. Witness after witness who had seen them, or stopped and asked them what was going on, took the stand. As a grim portrait of abuse, drunkenness and neglect emerged, the hatred and loathing for Robert Thompson and Jon Venables was also turned on their parents. .". His mother cared about him. It is claimed that taxpayers could have to fork out another 250,000 to provide a new life when he is eventually released. Denise, James Bugler's mother, went with her brother's girlfriend Nicola to the Bootle Strand Shopping Centre and took James with her. In quest of companionship, he occasionally bullied his younger brother into truanting with him, and, in an effort to impress his peers, frequently boasted of his late-night exploits on the railway line, but failed to attract much attention. He carried books on wrestling and wildlife in his school bag. According to the teacher, Jon would rock back and forth in his desk, making strange noises (this behavior was later speculated to be Jons jealous attempt to emulate his elder brother, in order to receive the same special attention), bang his head on the desk or walls repeatedly, glue bits of paper all over his face, wedge himself in between desks, throw himself on the ground, throw chairs across the corridor, rip projects off the classroom walls, cut holes in his socks, and intentionally cut himself with scissors. Another added: "An awful mistake??!! si fs. I wasnt on duty that day, so the very beginnings of the story washed over me. It was on his way back to the interview room when Venables finally admitted it: "We did it. Birds. Susan and the children moved in with her mother for a short time, and then settled in a small cluster of derelict apartments in Old Swan, where Jon attended the nearby Broad Green Preschool. He believes these were evil boys. The taunts upset Jons already volatile temper, and he began coming home in increasingly low spirits and crying. Ultimately, wanting to escape the havoc, most of the boys opted to leave home, and some were placed into voluntary care at Dysons Hall, a childrens home just outside of Liverpool. Thompson got better opportunities there than if hed been walking the streets in Walton, says the author. The days James was abducted, February 12 1993, I was a young reporter in my home city of Liverpool. James Bulgers mother Denise claims that she managed to track down Thompson six years ago, planning to confront him but instead stared at him from the opposite side of the street, full of rage but unable to act. 'I thought he was all right,' said Boy B, as he was known in court - Jon Venables. Then there were the separated parents, the poverty, the truanting, the videos. Robert was number five of seven. He denied having had any films that were not mainstream, or that were pornographic, in the house. A day later she would face much worse. "Youngsters are usually tried in a youth court, [Thompson and Venables] were tried in an adult court. . Susan opted to remove him from the school then, and some months later, she reenrolled him in St. Marys in Walton. But apart from his brother, Robert struggled to build friendships. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Then, one Friday in February, they discovered a new rule to break: they murdered a two-year-old. The sunrises through the sea mist over the sculpture The Couple by Sean Henry at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea on the Northumberland coast. Last November he was arrested and recalled to jail on suspicion of possession of images of child sex abuse. Neil explained to him that the school they attended was special, and that Jon wouldnt be accepted. Murder of James Bulger. I just heard an almighty screech. Then between 1990 and 1991, Jons teachers recognized a dramatic change in the boys behavior, which was alarming enough for one of his teachers to begin keeping a daily log. Robert said 'If you tell anybody I'll get my big brother to batter you up'. 'Just mad. His body was found two days later on a railway line. Yet, even while Susan admitted to being under huge emotional strain on a daily basis, the couple later denied that her constant hysterics would have encroached on Jon in any way, considering he was still in infancy at the time. On the walls hung oil paintings of local judges and magistrates, their surfaces crinkled with age. School had no hold on him - there was no corporal punishment or other form of penalty that touched him. He was pale in complexion and had watery brown, listless eyes. Will you tell his mum I'm sorry?". Just something to do.'. Boy A - Robert Thompson - was the shorter and more rounded of the two. ", Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. As his killers began their sentences, such was the revulsion that it was already clear their families could not. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Her husband came back to Walton now and again to see his mother, but he never came to see the boys. 2023 BBC. Venables, who was said to have been subjected to regular beatings by his mother Susan, titled the drawing 'My Dads house'. JON Venables's family was far from affluent, but it was not as close to the breadline as Robert's. On one occasion, he said, Robert ran off down the street laughing, "You can't catch me". Mrs Venables described how she searched for Jon. They played truant, they pinched sweets, they terrorised old ladies. Sorry, we are unable to accept comments about this article at the moment. Asked later if he could recall a time when his brother had exhibited any unusually aggressive tendencies, Roberts brother said no: Hes frightened of his own shadow. Nonetheless, in hindsight, its safe to assume that by 1993, ten-year-old Robert was swiftly approaching crisis point., Alarmingly, some of the neighboring children later claimed to have seen Robert behave cruelly towards animals, and pull the heads off of baby pigeons, although this was never unequivocally confirmed.
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