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 think there is a mix of several options RE Thompson and Venables here. Not all think Thompson deserves to live his life.

Yes, although Venables was spotted at an Everton game.

I have tried to reply to most people on here however I won’t be replying to people making personal comments about me, rude comments about people talking about true crime, and I have reported the few DM’s I have got with abusive messages.

Bloody hell.

How is he still breathing?

How do people know it was him for sure?

Genuinely curious, how do people know they see Venables when they haven’t seen him for sure since he was a small boy?

this could end up in someone else like that
man who killed himself because he was accused.

You are the only posting the details of what happened that day, so not sure why you’re accusing OP or anyone else of a fetish.

I'm glad you have reported abusive messages. Anyone who sent one should be banned.

"if true crime upsets them" ? Are you serious? You're making out this Is a "me" problem that I'm "upset" by it ? Wow!

I'm guessing you've lived a pretty comfortable life to have the time to sit on your sofa, phone in hand on Mumsnet, staring into the middle distance wondering how we can support murderers who sodomised a toddler with batteries and chucked bricks at his face ??

Shame on you.

I hope you're never the victim of a serious crime and have your neighbours and the public say "oohhh but the perpetrators parents were alcoholics. We need to rehabilitate them and try to understand"

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.
Of course there are but what was so shocking about this was the age of the boys.
Some of the torture dud get leaked, I dont think all the specifics were made public but what did come out was like an absolute horror movie.

It was kids that killed a kid that caused so much shock.

Op you weren't around at the time but I lived within 10 miles of this crime and I was around. Local communities were absolutely stunned when things began to unravel and and when the cctv footage of them enticing James away and he really trusted them is devastating. The shock rippled out nationwide.

if the thread upsets or makes them angry. This is obviously a very sensitive subject people will have strong feelings about. If it’s upsetting it may be best for you to avoid the thread.

The creators of ACEs withdrew as they were never to be used as a tool to score people with. They withdrew in 2020. So it was the people who made it who acknowledged the harm. And they are not trauma informed at all.

Most children who are abused do not go on to abuse. Data proves that. You are less likely to abuse if you were abused yourself as a child. Data is there. Yes there will be some cases. Of course there will be but the majority show that is not the case.

And that's what you took from my message is it? Ridiculous.

I unfortunately have been subject to crimes of SA although thankfully nothing like the poor boy here.

It’s relatively easy for journalists to find out this info, even though they wouldn’t publish it.

I mean, shame on you for joining a thread simply to cause trouble.

The creators released a paper about the harm it has done since their study was created and then stolen and manipulated into something it was never meant to be. They have said categorically not to use it to score individuals with as it causes harm and was never intended for that purpose.

I’m sorry that happened to you.

Interesting.

I was always under the illusion that in order to be rehabilitated the person had to be remorseful to some degree.

Here is a link, it was Thompson who Denise saw on the street. She spoke later on this.

https://www.thetimes.com/article/jamie-bulgers-mother-tracks-down-killer-zf8nfnbwn7q

Here's the BBC link (if you dont have The Times subscription). Just copy paste this:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4048957.stm

You need to be subscribed to read it

It was reported in the broadsheet media, so was a credible source.

Yes I am but I believe it should be reinstated.

The creators released a paper about the harm it has done since their study was created and then stolen and manipulated into something it was never meant to be. They have said categorically not to use it to score individuals with as it causes harm and was never intended for that purpose.
That's interesting as the children's services i work for still use them!

Cause trouble? You should be ashamed of yourself.