Brianna Ghey murderer sent to same secure unit where James Bulger's killer held

03 February 2024 , 18:06

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James Bulger's killer Robert Thompson (Image: PA)

One of the teenagers who brutally murdered Brianna Ghey has been held in the same secure unit which housed one of James Bulger’s killers.

Eddie Ratcliffe was placed in Barton Moss young offenders institution following his arrest for the murder last year. Over thirty years ago Robert Thompson was sent to the same unit, following the horrific murder of two-year-old James. His accomplice, Jon Venables, was locked up in the secure Vardy House wing of Red Bank, Newton-le-Willows

The boys were 10 when they were first sent to the units in February, 1993, while they were on remand awaiting trial for the abduction and murder of Kirkby toddler James.

When they were found guilty at Preston court court that November, they were ordered to be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure in the same units.

Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe were jailed for Brianna Ghey's murder (PA)

It is expected Ratcliffe will also stay at Barton Moss in the short term - although he may be transferred to Wetherby after he was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years at Manchester crown court.

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Meanwhile, his twisted partner in crime Scarlett Jenkinson is currently held in Adel Beck, a modern £12 million secure children’s home in Leeds. She was given a minimum term of 22 years before parole by trial judge Mrs Justice Yip.

Adel Beck boasts en-suite rooms, a large games hall, fully equipped fitness suite and changing facilities.

Vardy House wing of Red Bank (wiki)

The unit’s developers say the furniture “creates a bright, contemporary and non-clinical feel and coordinates with the fresh colour palette created as part of the Interior design strategy”.

Once she turns 18 Jenkinson is likely to go to Bronzefield women’s prison - where she will be locked up alongside baby killer Lucy Letby. She will receives round-the-clock protection and has access to an en-suite shower, a desk, a phone and a TV.

Two-year-old James Bulger was murdered in 1993 (PA)

Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were just 15 when they carried out the “frenzied and ferocious” attack. Both had denied murder and blamed the other - but were found guilty of murder following a trial last December.

Brianna, 15, was stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times in her head, neck, chest and back after being lured to Linear Park, Culcheth, a village near Warrington, Cheshire, on the afternoon of 11 February last year. The body of 'timid' Brianna was found lying face-down in the mud.

Brianna Ghey was 15 when she was killed (Cheshire Police / SWNS)

She was lured to a park where she was stabbed (PA)

Jenkinson, whose parents are teachers and lives close to the park, had been asked to leave her school, Culcheth High, over giving cannabis-laced gummy sweets to another pupil. She joined Brianna's school, Birchwood High, in October 2022 and quickly became “obsessed” with her.

A judge ruled on Friday that the 16-year-old was killed because she was trans and the CPS is now treating the murder as a hate crime.

Phil Cardy