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Home / World

James Bulger murder: Inmate claims he punched Jon Venables when he boasted of the killing

By Lara Keay
Daily Mail·
11 Feb, 2018 02:11 AM3 mins to read

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      James Bulger's mother opens up about her son's abduction. Source: ITV / Loose Women

      A former inmate locked up with Jon Venables has revealed how he attacked James Bulger's killer for bragging about brutally murdering the little boy.

      James Heap, 39, of Birmingham, served time at the same Merseyside secure unit as Venables back in 1994.

      Heap was 14 when he claims he punched an 11-year-old Venables "in his little face" for gloating about his and Robert Thompson's crime that shocked the nation, reports Daily Mail.

      He told the Sunday Mirror the child killer said abducting and murdering the toddler was "easy...just like going to the shop".

      The labourer added: "The look on ­Venables' face as he laughed about the murder will stay with me forever.

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      "He's got this mad face when he grins, the most evil little face you've ever seen.

      "That was enough for me – I didn't want to hear any more of that."

      An 11-year-old Venables allegedly gloated about taking James from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside in February 1993, saying: "I done it easy".

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      It comes as the Daily Star reports that Venables claimed he was "possessed by the devil" when he murdered James.

      He is said to have made the boast to prison guards while awaiting sentencing for child porn offences.

      Meanwhile, Heap's revelation comes a week after Venables was sent back to prison for being in possession of child pornography for the second time since his original release on licence in 2001.

      The Old Bailey heard the killer, who was given a new identity by the Home Office, hid his laptop with the disturbing images behind his bed.

      Discover more

      World

      Prisoners 'hunting' killer of 2yo James Bulger

      10 Feb 05:11 AM
      New Zealand|crime

      NZ tech led to breakthrough in triple murder case

      11 Feb 04:38 AM
      World

      Is Jon Venables set to lose his anonymity?

      09 Aug 01:23 AM

      A document found on his computer detailed instructions on "how to have sex with little girls...safely".

      The content is supposed to have been based on the experience of the author with his own two daughters.

      Heap also claims Venables revelled in how horrific the details of his crime were and refused to show any remorse.

      Venables and Thompson led little James to his death from a shopping centre in Liverpool. Photo / File
      Venables and Thompson led little James to his death from a shopping centre in Liverpool. Photo / File

      He is believed to have lied to other youngsters at the Red Bank unit, saying he was serving time for burglary.

      Heap also revealed how a young Venables would threaten to "go after" other inmates and their families on his release and was attacked by other inmates.

      Venables spent eight years at Red Bank, but Heap claims he had it easy, with a pool table, games room and his own Game Boy at his disposal.

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      When asked to do things by staff he would refuse, telling them to "F*** off".

      On the 25th anniversary of James Bulger's death two documentaries re-examined Thompson and Venables crimes.

      During James Bulger: A Mother's Story with Trevor McDonald on ITV, his mother Denise Fergus said her son's killers have "never been punished properly".

      She told the broadcaster: "I did say that if they weren't punished properly, then they would go on to re-offend — and that's exactly what's happened.

      "I've never had justice for James."

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