The prolific paedophile Jon Venables has applied for special leave from jail over the festive period.
It has been revealed by a prison source that Venables is desperate to get out of prison as soon as possible.
Venables will have served 13 months of his three-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography and will be eligible for parole next year.
Child killer, Jon Venables (pictured) has applied to be let out of prison for Christmas
All prisoners including those sentenced to life imprisonment can apply to be let out over Christmas providing they meet certain criteria.
Up to 1,200 prisoners are granted ‘release on temporary licence’ for a five-day period over Christmas every year even including convicted murderers.
The leave is only granted to cons who are no longer regarded as a threat to society, and who are nearing the end of their sentences.
Ten-year-old Robert Thompson (pictured) helped Jon Venables in 1993 in Bootle, Merseyside kill a two-year-old boy
The Daily Star Sunday has revealed the child killer, who lives under a new identity, rarely leaves his cell.
Prison officers believe it is only a matter of time before other inmates discovers Venables’ real identity and he is attacked.
He suffers from anxiety and depression, and has a special team of guards who monitor his security.
But jail sources say that despite his crimes, the pervert is regarded as a model prisoner.
A source said: ‘Venables is treated as someone who was found guilty of child porn.
‘He is not treated as a killer because he has done his time for that sentence. He is a loner who rarely associates with other prisoners. Only a few members of staff know his real identity.’
Two-year-old James Bulger (pictured) was snatched during a shopping trip to the Strand shopping centre, in Bootle, Merseyside
Venables, along with Robert Thompson, abducted, tortured, and killed two-year-old James Bulger, in Liverpool in 1993 when they were both aged 10.
It was three days before the toddler’s battered body was found on a railway line. The pair had thrown stones and bricks at James, and kicked and stamped on him before finally dropping an iron bar on to the defenceless tot.
They hid his body under bricks so that the first train to come along cut his body in two, but he was already dead by then.
The pair were jailed indefinitely, but were released on licence in 2001 after serving eight years, and were both given new identities.
Venables was recalled to prison last November after he was caught with more than 1,000 indecent images of children.
In February, he pleaded guilty to four counts – including owning 392 category A images, 148 category B and 630 category C pictures.
Appearing in court via video link, he also admitted having a paedophile manual on or before November 17 last year.