Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were both 10 when they murdered two-year-old James Bulger.
The murder of James Bulger in Bootle, Merseyside on February 12, 1993 sent shockwaves across the nation, as did the actions of those behind it, child murderers Robert Thompson and Jon Venables.
The pair spent eight years in a young offenders institute before they were released in 2001. The rehabilitated pair received fresh identities for their own safety in the hope they would go on to lead meaningful lives.
However, in 2010 and 2017, Venables was sent to prison for possession of child sexual abuse images. His parole request was initially denied last month, but it has since been revealed the child killer was granted a parole hearing yesterday and will have a crunch showdown in front of parole chiefs – expected in the next month.
James’s mum Denise will now attend the parole hearing where she will hear the killer’s voice for the first time in years. She has been granted unprecedented access for the first time ever to observe the hearing and will be able to see everything apart from Venables‘ face, which will be obscured to protect his identity.
But what ever became of Thompson? Venables is once again bringing the case back into public consciousness and the Mirror explored what we know about his accomplice’s current life…
Born on August 23, 1982, Thompson was one of seven children. His mother, Ann, fell into a spiral of depression and alcoholism after his father deserted their family five years prior to James’ murder. After her son’s conviction, she confessed to living “effectively in hiding” due to fears of “revenge attacks.”
Ann frequently changed her name and moved around but never too far from where her son was detained. During the November 1993 trial, Thompson was portrayed as the dominant figure, with prosecutors arguing he had led Venables astray. In ITV’s 2018 documentary James Bulger: A Mother’s Story, Detective Phil Roberts recalled interviewing the two 10-year-olds.
He said: “As far as I’m concerned that day – 20 years ago – I stared evil in the face. I think Thompson was in charge, but they both attacked James. They were a match made in hell. A freak of nature. They went out that day to kill – I truly believe that. And if they hadn’t been caught I fear they would have struck again.”
Thompson, now 43, was freed on licence in June 2001 aged 18 – after rigorous rehabilitation and a six-month assessment – when both he and Venables were judged to no longer pose a danger to the public. Thompson has not been known to reoffend.
Their new identities cost £1.5million to safeguard them from possible revenge attacks, The Echo reported, and both were banned from entering Liverpool. Thompson reportedly achieved five GCSEs, completed A-Levels and developed a passion for art upon release.
In 2006, Thompson has reportedly entered a long-term relationship with a man with his partner understood to be aware of who he was. Thompson’s 2001 parole board statement was made public for the first time in 2018 during a Channel 5 documentary, James Bulger: The New Revelations.
Thompson, at the time, insisted that his eight-year detention for the appalling murder had made him a “better person”. He apologised for the killing of James in his bid for freedom.
In his statement, he confessed: “At that time of my life, I was completely out of control and spending time with a group of friends whose main occupation was committing crime and causing trouble. I was out of control because my life on the streets was better for me than my life at home – there was nothing for me at home.
“I do feel aware that I am now a better person and have had a better life and a better education than if I had not committed the murder. There is obviously an irony to this, but it is part of my remorseful feelings as well. I, personally, wish Mr and Mrs Bulger and their families to know that I am desperately sorry for what I did, and aware of the enormity of what I did.
“Mr and Mrs Bulger have made statements in the press indicating that they would view any statement of remorse by me as a cynical manoeuvre to secure my release. It is difficult, given that, to see how I could ever communicate my remorse in an effective way.”
Thompson also told the parole board: “I am deeply ashamed of what I did, and of having played a part in this horrible murder.” However, James’ father Ralph dismissed these as “false words”, stating: “I’ll never accept that either of these two is sorry for what they done.”
Thompson previously stated that when he and Venables left the Strand shopping centre, he “became aware Jon Venables had a little boy with him”. On CCTV images showing James being led away, Thompson said: “I regret that I did nothing to stop it at this time and the sight of those photographs fills me with shame and revulsion.”
He refuted claims that they sexually assaulted James before his murder and further added: “Jon Venables and I did not speak to each other at all, as I remember, during the attack. And we didn’t speak about it after we left James Bulger on the railway line.”
Thompson confessed that he didn’t admit to the crime initially due to fear of retaliation. Recalling his and Venables’ first court appearance, he wrote: “I could hear people shouting and chanting, ‘Hang the bastards’ and screaming at the policemen to ‘Hand them over’.”
