Child killer Jon Venables to be given new identity

Venables, 27, was sentenced to two years imprisonment on Friday, for downloading pornographic images of toddlers, and when released, will be given a new birth certificate, national insurance number and various other identity documents which add up to of £250,000.

Ministry of Justice spokesperson said “Such a change of identity is extremely rare and granted only when the police assess that there is clear and credible evidence of a sustained threat to the offender's life on release into the community."

Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were jailed for life in 1993 for battering and murdering two-year old James Bulger. Both were released on licence in 2001 and issued new identities to protect them against vigilantes.

Venables turned to cocaine and mephedrone and alcohol-induced violence for several years after prison, and appeared in court for child pornography accusations under extreme secrecy, with only the judge able to see him.

The murdered toddler’s mother, Denise Fergus, waited in court wearing a badge reading “justice for James”, and later condemned his sentence as not enough.