Bulger killer 'accused of sex offence' as Straw admits allegations are 'serious'

Bulger killer 'accused of sex offence' as Straw admits allegations are 'serious' By STEPHEN WRIGHT UPDATED: 20:39 EST, 6 March 2010 Comments (234) Share One of the killers of James Bulger is facing 'extremely serious allegations' after being recalled to prison, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has admitted. Jon Venables, now 27, has been taken back into custody after breaching the conditions of his release. Justifying his decision not to disclose details of the recall, Mr Straw said: 'Our motivation throughout has been solely to ensure that some extremely serious allegations are properly investigated and that justice is done. 'No-one in this country would want anything other. That is what the authorities remain determined to do.' He spoke amid claims today that Venables had been accused of committing a sex crime. The Sun newspaper claimed it has uncovered the 'exact details' of the alleged offence, but said it was unable to publish them in full for fear Venables' new identity would be revealed. Today the Daily Mail revealed that Venables worked for years as a nightclub bouncer despite his violent past. He was employed by a firm which provided door staff at clubs and concerts. His bosses had no idea he was one of the country's most notorious killers and were happy to hand him the responsibility for ejecting troublemakers from a series of venues. In addition, he was able to dodge the vetting process which is aimed at stopping serious criminals from being employed on the door. The revelation that the killer worked in a trade where dealing with brawls and confrontations is commonplace will raise further questions about the handling of Venables's case since he was released from a secure unit nine years ago. He was recalled to prison last month for a breach of his licence but ministers have refused to reveal what prompted the move. More... 'They're always going on about protecting them... but there's no one to protect me': James Bulger's mother speaks AMANDA PLATELL: Why are a child killer's rights more important than ours? Last night, in her first full interview since the news of the recall, James Bulger's mother told the Daily Mail of her anger over the official refusal to tell her why Venables, who murdered her two-year-old son with accomplice Robert Thompson in 1993 when both boys were ten, is back behind bars. Denise Fergus, 42, said she was the victim of a 'massive cover-up' and said: 'If this hadn't been about to leak into the papers, I don't believe they would have even told me he was in prison. 'It hurts me to think that someone else might have suffered at Venables's hands in the process. I feel so angry about it.' James Bulger's mother Denise Fergus, left, and her two-year-old son. He was killed by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in 1993 According to informed sources, Venables's hand-picked probation officers were fully aware of his occupation. One source said: 'Venables found the job himself and was quite clever about doing work which did not require him to be the subject of Criminal Record Bureau checks. 'The company he worked for provided security at nightclubs and events. 'So long as Venables had no contact with children, probation officers were happy for him to continue in the job. He worked for the company for three or four years.' It is not known if Venables, who was given a new identity when he was released from jail in 2001 after serving eight years, was still working for the firm when he was recalled to prison. But in recent years, recruitment procedures have been tightened up to ensure that people with a history of violence do not become bouncers. Led away: Security footage shows James hand-in-hand with one of his killers at a shopping centre in Liverpool It is illegal for anyone to work as a 'door supervisor' without a licence from the Security Industry Authority. It is thought that Venables may have sidestepped this requirement - and with it the vetting process - by working under a slightly different job title. In order not to breach an injunction which protects his anonymity, the Ministry of Justice will not disclose why Venables is back in custody. Claims that he was involved in a fight with a colleague and had a long-standing drink and drugs problem have been dismissed. Privately, sources have described the reason for his recall as 'shocking', prompting speculation that Venables may have been violent towards a child or woman. The reason is thought to be so serious that it is unlikely he will even be considered for release for at least a year. Following his recall to prison, sources believe it is only a matter of time before Venables's cover is blown, leaving the Home Office with no option but to create a second new identity at an estimated cost of up to £250,000. Officials will provide Venables with another new name, National Insurance number and passport when and if he is released. Venables's accomplice, Robert Thompson, now 27, is gay and is believed to be in a long-term relationship with a man who knows about his past.