James Bulger's killer Jon Venables breached his parole when he had a punch-up with a work colleague, it is been claimed.
Venables, 27, is said to have had "an altercation" with a workmate who lodged an official complaint about that assault, according to the Daily Mirror.
The newspaper also alleged that Venables had been abusing cocaine and ecstasy since he was released in 2001 after being held for less than eight years in a secure children's home.
He was paroled on licence on the life sentence imposed in November 1993 for the abduction and murder of two-year-old James earlier that year.
The Ministry of Justice declined to confirm or deny the allegations.
The revelations come as the Government faced increasing public pressure to make public the details of Venables' breach of the terms of his parole.
Venables and his schoolpal Robert Thompson were aged 10 when they enticed James away from his mother at the Bootle New Strand Shopping Centre on Friday 12th Feb 1993.
They first attacked him at a nearby canal. Then, following a two-mile march through the streets of Bootle and Liverpool, he was stoned and battered death with an iron bar on a lonely railway line,
Venables and Thompson served seven years and eight months in separate local authority secure units, until they were released at the age of 18 with new identities.
The Daily Mirror contained a series of other unconfirmed allegations about Venables' life.
It claimed that he was earning the minimum wage at the workplace where the latest altercation allegedly happened and that he was suspended from his job. It also said that he is a music fan who has attended a number of open air festivals including Glastonbury and the V festival.
It claimed that he was living alone in a bedsit and that he once spent a night in a police cell after being found snorting cocaine in an alleyway.
On another occasion he is said to have been arrested after he got into a scuffle outside a nightclub.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he understood public frustration but that maintaining secrecy in the case served the public interest. However Home Secretary Alan Johnson had earlier indicated that he thought the information should be made public.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, at a Downing Street press conference said he too understood feelings about a "totally abhorrent crime" but said that it would not be right to comment or give details on the case.
He said: "What matters here is that the justice system is allowed to run its course and that justice is done."
There is speculation that Venables’ presence in jail, where gossip is generally rife, could lead to his new identity being discovered.
A spokesman for james' mother Denise Fergus said she believed it was imperative that the reasons for Venables recall are made public.
Her spokesman said: "To tell her that Venables is in prison but not to say why is callous and insenstive."
Denise thanked people for their support through Twitter where she said: "I’ve always said that there are more good people then bad in this world and the messages I’m still receiving proves it. Thanks to everyone x."
Venables will appear before a Parole Board hearing within 28 days which will decide whether to confirm his prison recall. If confirmed the decision would subject to further appeals and regular reviews.
A spokesman for the Parole Board said it was likely the result of the hearing would be released because of the high-profile nature of the case, but the reasons for the recall were unlikely to be made public.
Fears grow for missing Liverpool teen
(Thu 09/02)
Liverpool youth charged over bomb scare
(Tue 07/02)
Trio admit drug racket at Liverpool Crown Court
(Mon 06/02)
Post a comment