The BBC reports that one of the killers of toddler James Bulger is due in court on charges of accessing indecent images of children.

Venables is expected to appear at the Old Bailey via video-link from prison and will be asked to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.

He is charged with two offences under the 1978 Protection of Children Act. It is alleged that he downloaded 57 indecent images of children between February 2009 and February 2010.

He is also accused of distributing seven images between 1 and 23 February this year by allowing files on his computer to be available through a peer-to-peer network.

After eight years in custody for the murder of two-year-old James, Venables was given a new identity on his release in 2001.

He was then on licence for nine years, under probation supervision, before being sent back to jail in February over the latest allegations.

Venables’ former solicitor, Lawrence Lee, said the court’s decision to reveal the date of Friday’s hearing has undermined Venables’ anonymity and jeopardised his safety.

Access the original article online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10735857