THE new identity of killer Jon Venables must be kept secret because of the “compelling evidence” of a threat to his safety.

Mr Justice Bean last week ruled “unpopular” defendants had as much right to protection from retribution as anyone else.

Venables, one of the killers of toddler James Bulger, was jailed for two years after admitting child porn offences.

The Old Bailey heard he was still receiving death threats after he and Robert Thompson, both aged 10, battered and murdered James, two, in Bootle in 1993.

They were jailed for life the following year before being released on licence in 2001, when they were given new names and wide-ranging legal restrictions were put in place.

Mr Justice Bean decided last week to continue the restrictions, although he allowed the media to report Venables was living in Cheshire before he was recalled to custody for the new crimes.

Giving his reasons publicly, the judge said: “There is understandable and legitimate public interest in the fact one of James Bulger’s killers has now been convicted of child pornography offences.

“But there is no legitimate public interest in knowing his appearance, his location in custody or the exact location at which he was arrested and to which he might return on the event of being released.

“If there is, it is of marginal significance when set against the compelling evidence of a clear and present danger to his physical safety and indeed his life if these facts are made public.”

Venables, now 27, was recalled to custody in February after pornography featuring children as young as two was found on his computer.

The judge said “one would have thought” that, 17 years after the crime, “the threat from members of the public would have diminished”.

But he added: “There is clear evidence it has not.”