James Bulger killer accused of child porn offences

Venables, 27, is expected to enter his pleas to two charges through a prison video link to the Old Bailey on July 23.

They allege he downloaded 57 indecent photographs of children on to his computer between February last year and February this year, and in doing so, made seven images available to others on the internet while the process was taking place.

The charges could not formerly be reported because of an injunction imposed by Mr Justice Bean last month.

He lifted the injunction yesterday following an application by the media.

Gavin Millar QC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer, yesterday read out the charges for court records.

Mr Millar said the use of particular software meant the images downloaded by Venables had been exposed to "acquisition" by other internet users searching for such material.

"There is no evidence that anybody did acquire them by that route," he added.

Venables and Robert Thompson were jailed for life for the 1993 murder of two-year-old James, who was led away from a shopping centre in Liverpool by the then 10-year-olds.

They were jailed for life but released on licence in 2001 after serving eight years and given new identities.

The terms of their release contain strict conditions and means, however, they can be recalled to prison at any time if they reoffend or if they are thought to pose a threat to the public.

Venables was recalled to prison in February this year following the allegations which were then not detailed, sparking a row over the nature of the restrictions being placed upon the case.

These are likely to remain when the proceedings are finally heard to protect Venables' new identity.

Judges have granted four such anonymity orders, covering

Venables and Thompson as well as child killer Mary Bell and Maxine Carr, the former girlfriend of Soham murderer Ian Huntley.

Widespread speculation over the nature of the allegations against Venables earlier this year led to the former Justice Secretary Jack Straw issuing a statement to MPs in which he said it would not be "in the interests of justice" to make more information public.