BREAKING NEWS: James Bulger killer Jon Venables has been charged over indecent images of children but his trial will be held in secret

Venables and Robert Thompson were aged just 10 when they killed James Bulger

They have since been released from their sentences and given anonymity

Venables has since been accused and charged with having child abuse images

Prosecutors announced today that he would be tried for the offence in private

One of toddler James Bulger's killers has been charged over indecent images of children and his trial is to be held in private at an unnamed court, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

Jon Venables was returned to prison in November after he was allegedly caught with child abuse images.

The CPS released a statement on Friday revealing that he had been charged and was to face trial.

Jon Venables, who as a boy (pictured) killed toddler James Bulger, will have his trial over possession of child abuse images heard in private, prosecutors have said

The statement said: 'The man formerly known as Jon Venables has been charged with offences relating to indecent images of children and will appear in the Crown Court.

'In order that justice can be done, no further details are being released at this stage and the proceedings are subject to reporting restrictions.'

Venables and his friend Robert Thompson tortured and killed two-year-old James in Liverpool in 1993 when they were both aged 10.

After serving eight-year sentences, they were granted lifelong anonymity that saw them released under new identities in 2001.

The decision to hold his latest court appearance in private is likely to anger his victim's family and campaigners for open justice. 

James's father Ralph Bulger has previously called for Venables to be stripped of his anonymity.

James Bulger was just two years old when he was tortured and killed by Venables and Thompson. His father Ralph Bulger (right in 2011) has called for Venables to be stripped of his anonymity

'If people saw a photo of him as the adult monster he truly is they would have a very different perception of the person committing the crimes instead of a picture of so called childhood innocence,' Mr Bulger told The Sunday People last year. 

Mr Bulger said that Venables should be given an adult life sentence.   

When news of Venables'  latest arrest emerged, James's mother Denise Fergus said: 'Venables has now proved beyond any doubt what a vile, perverted psychopath he has always been.' 

James' mother Denise Fergus says the latest case shows Venables is still the 'vile, perverted psychopath he has always been'

It is the second time he has been recalled to prison over child abuse images.

In 2010, Venables was sent back to jail for two years after pleading guilty to charges of downloading and distributing child pornography.

In September 2008, he was arrested on suspicion of affray after a drunken brawl and was given a formal warning by the probation service for breaching the good behaviour terms of his licence.

Later the same year he was cautioned for possession of cocaine after he was found with a small amount of the class A drug.

Following his arrest in November, the Attorney General launched an investigation into claims his identity had been revealed on social media.

In 2013, two men who posted images they claimed to be of Venables and Thompson were given nine-month sentences, suspended for 15 months.

Breaking the injunction on identifying them carries a punishment of up to two years in prison. 

In CCTV footage that shocked a nation in 1993, Venables (seen holding the toddler's hand) and Thompson are seen leading James out of the shopping centre and towards his death