James Bulger's killer Jon Venables will be given another new identity at a cost of ?250,000 to the taxpayer, according to reports.
Venables was jailed for two years on Friday after pleading guilty at the Old Bailey to downloading ~~~~ographic images of young children.
He and Robert Thompson were released on licence in 2001 after being given life sentences in 1993 for the murder of toddler James Bulger in Merseyside when they were just 10.
The pair had been given new identities and extensive measures were taken to make sure they were protected from vigilantes as they became national hate figures.
The Daily Telegraph has now reported Venables, 27, will once again be issued with a new birth certificate, national insurance number and other documents when he is released.
The newspaper estimated the cost of creating the new identity could reach ?250,000, with close supervision from probation officers adding another ?1m.
Venables was sentenced to life aged 10
Venables appeared via video-link at the Old Bailey on Friday, and under unprecedented secrecy, was visible only to the judge.
He spoke just four words in court - answering "yes" to his name and pleading "guilty" to three child ~~~~ography charges.
Following his sentence, some media organisations had applied to be able to report his new name.
But the killer's lawyers voiced concerns that Venables' life would be seriously in danger if his identity did become public.
He spoke clearly and confidently when asked to respond to the child ~~~~ography charges he faced. He said the word "guilty" three times.
Sky News' Tom Parmenter on a "phantom" court appearance
It was claimed this would put him at further risk from attack in prison and could mean he would have to adopt another persona on his eventual release.
But a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said it did not accept it was "inevitable" Venables would be given a new identity.
She said: "Such a change of identity is extremely rare and granted only when the police assess that there is clear and credible evidence of a sustained threat to the offender's life on release into the community."
It has also emerged the Ministry of Justice will hold a review into how Venables was supervised after his release on licence in 2001.
Toddler James Bulger was tortured and killed in 1993
The handling of the situation by police, probation officers and other agencies will be scrutinised.
At the Old Bailey, it was revealed that Venables had been living in Cheshire and the images were only found on his computer when he invited a probation officer to his home to discuss concerns that his identity had been discovered.
The 27-year-old was found trying to remove his hard drive with a tin opener.
The court also heard that he had been under curfew after being arrested for fighting in 2008 and was also cautioned for possessing a small amount of cocaine.
The review will examine whether these two circumstances should have led to him being jailed for breaching his licence. It is expected to last three months.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk
Venables was jailed for two years on Friday after pleading guilty at the Old Bailey to downloading ~~~~ographic images of young children.
He and Robert Thompson were released on licence in 2001 after being given life sentences in 1993 for the murder of toddler James Bulger in Merseyside when they were just 10.
The pair had been given new identities and extensive measures were taken to make sure they were protected from vigilantes as they became national hate figures.
The Daily Telegraph has now reported Venables, 27, will once again be issued with a new birth certificate, national insurance number and other documents when he is released.
The newspaper estimated the cost of creating the new identity could reach ?250,000, with close supervision from probation officers adding another ?1m.
Venables was sentenced to life aged 10
Venables appeared via video-link at the Old Bailey on Friday, and under unprecedented secrecy, was visible only to the judge.
He spoke just four words in court - answering "yes" to his name and pleading "guilty" to three child ~~~~ography charges.
Following his sentence, some media organisations had applied to be able to report his new name.
But the killer's lawyers voiced concerns that Venables' life would be seriously in danger if his identity did become public.
He spoke clearly and confidently when asked to respond to the child ~~~~ography charges he faced. He said the word "guilty" three times.
Sky News' Tom Parmenter on a "phantom" court appearance
It was claimed this would put him at further risk from attack in prison and could mean he would have to adopt another persona on his eventual release.
But a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said it did not accept it was "inevitable" Venables would be given a new identity.
She said: "Such a change of identity is extremely rare and granted only when the police assess that there is clear and credible evidence of a sustained threat to the offender's life on release into the community."
It has also emerged the Ministry of Justice will hold a review into how Venables was supervised after his release on licence in 2001.
Toddler James Bulger was tortured and killed in 1993
The handling of the situation by police, probation officers and other agencies will be scrutinised.
At the Old Bailey, it was revealed that Venables had been living in Cheshire and the images were only found on his computer when he invited a probation officer to his home to discuss concerns that his identity had been discovered.
The 27-year-old was found trying to remove his hard drive with a tin opener.
The court also heard that he had been under curfew after being arrested for fighting in 2008 and was also cautioned for possessing a small amount of cocaine.
The review will examine whether these two circumstances should have led to him being jailed for breaching his licence. It is expected to last three months.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk
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