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James Bulger killer Jon Venables could be free before the end of the year after it emerged that an application for his release was made to the parole board.

, 42, who was 10 when he abducted and killed two-year-old in 1993, is expected to appear in front of officials who will approve or deny his freedom from within six months. His last hearing was held in December 2023. However, then it was deemed he still posed a risk to the public. A source said James' family have been left living in terror after receiving news of his potential release.

They told : “It’s very worrying that the process has started all over again. How many chances does he need before they throw away the key? The family are wracked with fear, and who can blame them?”

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Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is said to have told James' parents Denise Fergus, 55, and her ex-partner Ralph Bulger, 58, that she doesn't want to see him freed.

Venables and Robert Thompson abducted the tot from a Merseyside shopping centre, tortured him and left his mutilated body on a railway line in Liverpool. Both were convicted in 1993 and each handed a life sentence despite their young ages.

In 2001, Venables was released after eight years in youth custody, however just nine years later he was found with child abuse images on his computer and recalled to jail. He was freed in 2013, but once again had to be recalled in 2017 over further vile images. Despite only receiving a 40-month prison term, his past three parole bids have failed.

A summary of the Parole Board panel's decision stated: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and on licence, and the evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public." It outlined three main reasons for why Venables' bid for freedom was denied.

The Parole board said it "doubted Mr Venables’ ability to be open and honest with professionals, and concluded that there remained a need for him to address outstanding levels of risk, and to develop his relationship with his probation officer."

The board said the killer had completed a "considerable amount of work" in prison to address his offending but the panel remained "concerned by continuing issues of sexual preoccupation". The summary added: "The panel considered that there were future risks of Mr Venables again viewing indecent images of children/child sexual abuse images."

It was also felt that there was a future risk of Venables, if he were to be released, "progressing to offences where he might have contact with children, and both of these present a risk of causing serious harm to others".

The latest attempt is reportedly in its early stages, and he is currently undergoing psychological assessments.

The Mirror understands Venables has applied to the parole board again.