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True crime and unsolved mysteries

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Do you think Robert Thompson is truly rehabilitated? TW

3 replies

Cheffymcchef · 05/06/2025 18:43

As we all know, Jamie 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 Jamie’s 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?

OP posts:
Zone2NorthLondon · 05/06/2025 19:44

I think as a liberal society we must commit to rehabilitation for prisoners with community support on discharge. Both will have had assessment and monitoring to assess suitability for discharge. There is no absolute guarantee that any potential future risk is extinguished.Thompson needs to monitored and given opportunity to live safely in community. I appreciate there is a vociferous lock em up throw away key opinion, that is too simplistic and doesn’t actually address any of the underlying causes of crime eg trauma, poverty, dysfunction

The crime was heinous and notorious
James family have the trauma of a infant life brutally ended and potential unrealised all in public eye

However we as a society retain the moral responsibility to rehabilitate where appropriate. With caveat not all individuals have a rehab potential

WhereIsBed · 05/06/2025 19:49

How on earth would would we know if he is "truly rehabilitated"? We don't know him and we (quite rightly) aren't party to the details of his ongoing supervision.

HebeMumsnet · 06/06/2025 10:11

We're going to close this thread to new posts now. It's had a lot of reports and we have some concerns about the OP, too.

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