Venables jailed after admitting child porn charges

Appearing via videolink at the Old Bailey, Venables, 27, admitted downloading 57 indecent images of children to his computer during 2009 and this year.

He also admitted distributing three indecent images of children in February this year and a third count of distributing 42 images in February last year.

Although those who attended the hearing, including James Bulger’s mother Denise Fergus, could hear Venables’ plea, the video screen was positioned so that only the judge could see him.

Venables was released in 2001 and given a new identity, but was recalled to prison earlier this year for breaching the terms of his licence after the images were discovered on his computer.

He will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register when he is released and has also been banned from using the internet for five years.