Torture in the woods: The full, terrible story

AS the full horror of the attack in the woods of Edlington, South Yorkshire, began to emerge, the two brothers responsible faced a future under lock and key.

But they could be back on the streets in five years. If the Parole Board believes then that they are no longer a danger to the public, they will be released.

Until they are thought to have reformed, they must stay locked up.

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Today they have been returned to the secure children's home where they have been held since April last year and where a team of professionals are tasked with turning their lives around.

In his sentencing remarks Mr Justice Keith left no doubt as to the scale of the task confronting those staff.

He told the brothers they carried out the acts of sadistic violence "simply because you wanted to".

There is a "very high risk" of both boys committing more violent offences and causing other victims serious harm, he said.

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He described their home life as "toxic" - a mixture of neglect, and both physical and mental abuse. One of the boys was exposed to drugs, alcohol, and both to pornographic and violent films at a very young age.

Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were both held in secure children's homes after they killed James Bulger in 1993.

There are 14 such homes in England and Wales, with a total of 191 places. Such intensive treatment is expensive; per person they cost just shy of 250,000 a year.

Full story: Five year minimum for sadist brothers

Background: Even hardened police cried at boys' appalling injuries

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It could have been prevented, admits Doncaster review board

In full: What the judge told sadistic Edlington brothers

The cycle of violence authorities can't stop

Cameron: Torture case is part of what's wrong with our broken society

Police: Why we didn't act after sadist boys' previous attack

Judge: Why I threw out Doncaster Council's 'no publicity' plea

No remorse: Sadist brothers 'not even shaken' by their actions

More background and video coverage