Jon Venables has “proved what a vile, perverted psychopath he has always been”, the mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has said.
Convicted killer Venables has been returned to prison after he was caught with child abuse images for a second time and arrested last week.
Along with Robert Thompson, he tortured and killed two-year-old James in Liverpool in 1993.
In a statement James’s mother, Denise Fergus, said: “Venables has now proved beyond any doubt what a vile, perverted psychopath he has always been.
“But what hurts me most is the way the probation service has tried to cover this up.
“Venables was taken back into custody a week ago, yet I was only informed hours before it hit the press.
“But it’s clear that they were trying to keep this quiet, until they got a call from the media.”
The grave of murdered James Bulger (Dave Thompson/PA)
Mrs Fergus said she was called at 8.40pm on Wednesday with “few details given”, just that Venables had breached the terms of his licence and been returned to prison.
“That left me extremely upset, angry, feeling insulted,” she added.
“I will be taking advice from my lawyer before making a formal complaint to the probation service. I hope finally I might get some justice for my son, James.
“I predicted Venables would reoffend unless they kept a very tight rein on him and I pray that now please someone from the UK Government will finally listen to me.”
Officials are said to have found indecent material on a computer during a routine check at the home of Venables.
His arrest follows an incident in 2010 when he was sent back to prison for downloading and distributing child pornography.
Now 35, Venables is subject to lifelong licence conditions for his role in the murder of two-year-old James when he and Thompson were just 10 years old.
After serving eight-year sentences, Venables and Thompson were granted lifelong anonymity that saw them released under new identities in 2001.
Venables went on to offend again, including arrests for affray and possession of cocaine in 2008. In 2010, he was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to downloading images of child abuse.
Venables, who was reportedly given a second new identity after his first alias was revealed, was granted parole in 2013.
A source close to the investigation told The Sun: “It’s all about protecting the public. We have these systems so those who could be a risk to the public are picked up. That’s what happened here.”
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on individuals.”