James Bulger killer joins dating website
One of James Bulger’s killers has reportedly joined a dating website where prospective partners would have no idea about his past.
Jon Venables, 32, has joined the dating site under his new name, which cannot be revealed due to a life-long order protecting the new identity he was given after serving out eight years in prison over the toddler’s death, The Mirror reports.
In 1993, Venables and friend Robert Thompson, both aged 10 at the time, lured two-year-old James Bulger from a shopping centre in Merseyside, England, then beat and tortured him, leaving his body on a railway line.
In his online dating profile, Venables reportedly names his sense of humour as his best quality, and tells of his love for music and football.
The dating website cannot be identified.
The Mirror reports that it discovered Venables inviting women to contact him online in an investigation with television reporter and child protection expert Mark Williams-Thomas.
“The horrific nature of James’s murder should mean that his killers should remain under constant supervision and be unable to freely roam the internet,” Mr Williams-Thomas told The Mirror.
“But this is not happening.”
It is not the first time Venables’ activity online has caused concern.
Five years ago Venables admitted downloading and distributing child abuse images, while in 2007 he reportedly tried to seduce a 36-year-old mother, who also had a young son, by sending her flattering messages on social media and chatting to her on webcam.
Morning news break – January 26
