Remorse and shame of man who is living a lie

John Gibson of Howells Solicitors, Sheffield, said on his behalf after the case: "By pleading guilty to the charges today Jon Venables has accepted and acknowledged the wrong he has done and the harm he has caused.

"He is extremely remorseful and knows that he has badly let down those who have tried to help him.

"He is determined now, once and for all, to become the person he wishes to be so that when he is eventually released from prison, he will never go back."

He said: "He puts forward no excuse for his conduct. He is genuinely ashamed, but he has, and continues to express his remorse, and has come to an understanding of how children are harmed by those who have even a passing interest in such material, let alone by those who pass it on.

"He has said that every day since what took place in 1993 he has thought about how different life might have been for all those affected, who he appreciates have also had their own reasons for reflection."

His release had involved a challenge impacting on him daily since. In the words of the pre-sentence report on him he had a complete change of identity "trained by the police in counter-surveillance and has had to live and hold a lie for the rest of his life."