James Bulger's killer Jon Venables was thrown back in jail over an allegation that he committed a sickening sex crime, The Sun newspaper has claimed.

The 27-year-old is expected to be brought before a court in the near future to face charges over it.

The Sun reports that it has discovered exact details of the offence. But government lawyers last night threatened to gag the newspaper with an injunction if they revealed it in full.
¬the Attorney General demanded the Sun withhold any information about Venables' alleged offence¬
Justice Secretary Jack Straw would only say that it is 'extremely serious allegations' which prompted Venables' arrest.

Other newspapers speculate and report today that Venables has been arrested on child pornography offences. Other allegations printed are that he has been involved with drugs and has revealed his real identity.

If Venables is found guilty of the offence, whatever it is, it will represent a staggering failure in his close supervision by the Justice Ministry's Probation Service.

Aged ten, Venables and Robert Thompson were locked up for torturing and battering two-year-old James on Merseyside in 1993. They were released on special licence amid huge controversy in 2001 with new identities and lives.

They had to abide by a series of strict conditions, which would be monitored very closely by probation officers.

Since Venables was arrested by police last week, the Government has refused to reveal the reasons stating that they do not wish to risk a miscarriage of justice.

Late last night, Treasury solicitors acting on behalf of the Government's top legal adviser, the Attorney General, demanded the Sun withhold any information about Venables' alleged offence.

They argued that publishing full details of it would lead to his identification and potentially prejudice any criminal trial.