Do you think Robert Thompson is truly rehabilitated?

[Cheffymcchef]

As we all know, James Bulger was a two-year-old boy from the UK whose tragic abduction and murder in 1993 shocked the world. Taken from a shopping center by two ten-year-old boys, John Venables and Robert Thompson, his death became one of the most harrowing and widely known cases in modern British history. To this day, nearly everyone who hears his name knows the heartbreaking story and the profound impact it had on public consciousness and the justice system.
both boys were released after serving 8 years, when they turned eighteen. John Venables returned to prison twice for possessing CSAM. He is currently still in prison.
I personally think Venables is sick and can’t be “cured” of his attraction to kids. He will always reoffend imo, even if his devices etc are taken away. He needs to stay in prison. He’s also allegedly revealed his identity and needed several new identities costing the taxpayer even more. I know you get all this “stop it now” therapy- I just don’t think pedophiles can be cured. It’s like trying to do conversion therapy on a straight person.
I don’t know how I feel about Thompson- he committed a heinous murder, but did his time in custody. He’s never reoffended and now allegedly lives with a partner who knows who he is. Can’t remember if he has children. From studying this case, it always seems like he was deemed the ring leader, yet he is the one who has cleaned himself up and stayed out of trouble.
both boys allegedly came from abusive households.
I know poor James' mum will never get over his death. I cant imagine the mixed feelings she must have, she likely thinks it was wrong for either boy to be released so young.
I can’t say I’d be too thrilled about Thompson moving into my area if that’s the case, but truthfully I think if he’s done his time he needs to be left alone now to live his life . But that’s probably a wildly unpopular opinion- because James will never get to live his life.
what do you think?

posted in crime but moved here for traffic

I hope so.

Tbh, I think he was seen by the public and the media as the 'leader' because the other one looked all sweet and innocent whereas he had a buzz cut and was not deemed 'cute'.

If he's rehabilitated, released and no longer a danger he should be left alone.

Don't know. I can't give those two much thought. Too upsetting and close to home.

I remember watching a documentary where an ex police officer even said they thought he was the leader as he appeared cocky in interviews while Venables cried.

Why do people keep going on about him and them? There are tons of much more dangerous and violent criminals who are out and about.

I agree.

Unfortunately you’re right but it’s a well known case people are going to discuss. Do you think the same about Madeleine McCann because there’s other missing children?

Yes, doesn’t everyone?

I think other children should be spoken about but so should she I guess. I think there is room to talk about all cases.

Yes although its being spoken about now because there is current activity. But if it was just brought up as it sometimes is from time to time, I absolutely do wonder why her and not other kids

In fact theres a thread at the moment isnt there about Andrew Godsen, and other missing people, many of whom people have never heard of because they're not well publicised.

And missing people or missing kids are different, they are still missing, its still an open case in many ways

This case ended, decades ago, for him anyway. There are far far more dangerous people in society who are actively dangerous right now.

I think if he is rehabilitated and I believe so if he was under as close surveillance as Venables then he should be left alone to live his life. Both of those boys had horrendous early starts in their formative years and whilst it isn't an excuse I feel it had a lot to do with the explanation as to how they ended up commiting the murder of poor James.
One of them seems to have made better choices than the other, their time away was at least a partial success.

No. Clearly not. Otherwise they wouldn't be talked about so much by so many.

It was me who posted the AG thread.

Yes. Awful and tragic, but far too much airtime and money spent on her in comparison to other missing children.

No idea whether JT is rehabilitated - and not sure how anyone on here could have an opinion on that tbh, but I do agree that Venables repeat offending and interest in Child Sex Abuse images suggests that he is not 'fixable'.

I think it's none of our business. There is no way that anyone not directly involved (psychotherapists, parole officers or whatever) could possibly have enough information for their opinion to be remotely valid or worth paying attention to.

Christ knows. I’m reading James’ mum’s book at the moment and what that poor woman went through was like Satan himself knocked on her door.

The brain is still developing into your 20s, so it's perfectly possible for both of them to no longer be a danger.

Mary Bell was released and hasn't been in trouble since. Like her they both came from very dysfunctional backgrounds.

I take it you’re not aware that one of them is a repeat offender paedophile?

Didn’t JV reoffend well into his thirties?

I've dealt with children from abusive homes for years in relation to crime and anti-social behaviour. At this level, its totally different, the ability to experience remorse or regret for actions is something that can be nurtured by interventions of specialist support and it can be successful. Rehabilitation also dependa on the type of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) he had and how many, what type etc., as young children can become traumatised at a very young age and the cycle of criminal behaviour is very hard to break. I would hope both had been rehabilitated but deep down I know that what drove them to kill on that day, may return given the right circumstances.

They were ten.

They did an unimaginably awful thing, but I think if he’s served his time and managed to commit any other crimes since then the chances are he’s a normal, functional, person.

That’s really interesting. It’s refreshing to see that some adults do have faith that children can be rehabilitated despite their awful crimes.

Sure did. Last conviction was 2018 I think.

All this “brain developing” stuff is nonsense. He could live to 1000 years old and he’d still be a wrongyin.

Perhaps Robert Thompson was made aware of the possibility he could make the same decision under a certain set of circumstances and has acted and lived in a way as to avoid those circumstances unfolding again.
We don't know how he lives his life but we absolutely would if he has broken his parole conditions and we haven't heard a peep as of yet.
I think Robert Thompson possibly had an intellectual advantage over Venables and has made better choices for himself after being released.

I also think their upbringing may be a “reason” for their behaviour that day.