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One of the killers of two-year-old James Bulger has admitted possessing child abuse images and a "paedophile manual" at a secret trial.

Jon Venables was caught with 1,170 indecent photos of children on his laptop, the Old Bailey was told today.

After reporting restrictions were lifted, MirrorOnline can also report that Venables had a document containing advice on how to abuse kids, entitled “The Jazz Guide”.

Today he was jailed for 40 months for his crimes - three years and four months.

The judge also told him that Venables might not be released at the end of his sentence - as it was at the discretion of the Parole Board to decide if he continues to pose a risk to the public.

James Bulger's father Ralph and mother Denise were both in court to witness proceedings - during which they heard Venables apologise to them through his lawyer, who claimed he still "has the capacity for good".

(Image: Getty Images)

After the case they stood outside the Old Bailey and next to their spokesman who read out a statement saying the sentence was a farce.

Denise Fergus faced a "horrendous ordeal" as she listened to the "vile behaviour" of her son's killer being outlined in court, her spokesman said.

The statement they issued said: “Venables will be leaving the court today thinking he’s got away with it.

"If Venables is released he must be kept on a very tight leash. His apology was simply rubbing salt in the wounds and is not one that is accepted.”

(Image: PA)

(Image: Ben Rossington)

The court earlier heard an expert report said Venables has a “profound sexual interest in children” and that he poses a “high risk of serious harm to children”.

Venables, who was released on licence in 2001 after serving eight years for the murder of two-year-old James, was returned to prison last November after he was caught with the pictures.

The pictures and videos were mainly children aged between six and 13 years old - but some showed the rape of younger infants.

The Jazz Guide found on the laptop - hidden behind his bed and containing software enabling searched of the Dark Web - was said in court to be a "manual that teaches you how to have sex with little girls safely".

The court heard it featured a table outlining 'a guide for f***ing young girls'.

The now 35-year-old pleaded guilty this morning to having indecent images of children and having a paedophile manual.

Today in court, through his lawyer Ed Fitzgerald QC, Venables apologised to the family of James Bulger.

Mr Fitzgerald said: "Some would say there is no point to try to rehabilitate Venables. I would submit he still has the capacity for good and change.

"Neither he nor society should give up on his capacity to change."

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Justice Edis told Venables that his was a “unique case”.

Referring directly to the murder of James Bulger - and parents Ralph and Denise - he told him: “From what I know of his parents, it is clear that you not only took his young life but have also devastated theirs.”

He continued: "This case is unique because when you were 10 years old you took part in the brutal murder and torture of James Bulger.

"That was a crime which revolted the nation and which continues to do so even after the 25 years that has passed since it happened.

"The facts of what you did are notorious and there is no need for me to repeat them here."

He said the images of abuse he downloaded were "heartbreaking for any ordinary person to see this kind of material".

Given his background it was significant that a number of the images were of crimes against young boys, he said.

The anniversary of James Bulger's murder - 25 years ago last month Two documentaries on the James Bulger case are airing on British television this week, marking the 25th anniversary of his brutal death. MirrorOnline reported yesterday how one, which has already aired on Channel 4, has created anger for allegedly "sympathising" with the toddlers killers. Viewers were shocked when experts "defended" the 10-year-old murderers saying they made "an awful mistake". Meanwhile James Bulger's mum Denise has released previously unseen family photos of her murdered son for a new documentary set to air on ITV tomorrow night, 'James Bulger: A Mother's Story With Trevor McDonald'.

It emerged last month that Venables had been charged over the grotesque images found on his computer by a probation officer.

The court heard that upon his arrest he told cops in the police car: "This is my own fault. I have let people down again.

"I have had urges, inquisitive. It won’t be a slap on the wrist for me.”

Today the judge said his possession of the "vile" Jazz Guide showed Venables was “at least contemplating the possibility of moving on to contact offences, that is actual sexual crimes against children".

The court earlier heard that Venables also said he preferred looking at child abuse images to real sex with an adult partner.

At a hearing at the Old Bailey, the defendant, referred to as AB, pleaded guilty to four counts.

He admitted having 392 category A images, 148 category B and 630 category C pictures.

(Image: Optomen TV/ITV)

Venables - who is now living with a second new identity - also pleaded guilty to having a paedophile manual on or before November 17 last year.

Louis Malby QC, prosecuting, said of Venables: “It is a disgusting and sickening document that falls far below any recognised standards of morality.”

Venables, who has lifelong anonymity, pleaded guilty via video link from custody - with a sheet covering the screen so that the media could only hear and not see him.

The judge - who was the only person who could see him - was told: “The likelihood he will sexually reoffend is very high."

His lawyer told the court that since his last release in 2013 - when the Parole Board said he no longer posed a risk to children - Venables had "held down a job and survived in the community".

He had been banned from any internet access but had started searching for child abuse images last July, the court heard.

It was also said that he told police last year that he "needed help to understand why he did this and ensure he didn't do it again".

Reporting restrictions had been put in place so that the date and place of his trial could not be reported - until they were lifted after the plea this morning.

Britain's youngest killers, Venables and his friend Robert Thompson, tortured and killed James Bulger in Liverpool in 1993 when they were both aged 10.

They were granted lifelong anonymity with new identities when they were freed on licence.

It was the second time Venables had breached the terms of his release in just seven years.

Venables broke his parole in 2010 when he was found with a horde of sickening images for the first time - and he was sent back to jail for two years and given another new identity.

James Bulger's family are yet to comment on this morning's hearing.