James Bulger killer’s secret life and relationship with man who knew what he’d performed

Robert Thompson was one of two sick and twisted murderers who targeted two-year-old James Bulger in 1993 but has largely kept out of the headlines since his release

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It’s been over 30 years since the devastating abduction and murder of two-year-old James Bulger in February 1993 which child killers Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were found guilty of.

The pair were just 10 at the time and were housed in a young offenders’ institute for eight years following their conviction. They were rehabilitated and given new identities for their protection in 2001.

Even more tragically for James’ mum Denise, Venables has continued to offend and was thrown back in prison in 2010 and 2017 for possession of child sexual abuse images. An initial request for parole was recently denied but the child killer has been granted a parole hearing due to happen next month – one Denise will be able to attend.

While Venables has continued to publicly peruse a life of crime, Thompson has largely kept out of the headlines – but what happened to him? The Mirror has pulled together a timeline of the secret life of the other brutal killer of poor James Bulger.

Thompson was born in August 1982 and was one of seven children to mother, Ann, an alcoholic who suffered with depression following the desertion of Thompson’s father five years before James was killed.

During the trial in November 1993, Thompson was portrayed as the dominant figure between he and Venables and, after their conviction, Ann admitted she was in hiding due to fear of “revenge attacks”.

In ITV’s 2018 documentary James Bulger: A Mother’s Story, Detective Phil Roberts said he had “stared evil in the face” when he interviewed the two ten-year-olds.

He said: “As far as I’m concerned that day […] 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 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 was reported to have achieved five GCSEs, completed A-Levels and developed a keen interest in art after his release and, in 2006, reports emerged that he had settled into a stable long-term relationship with a man who was aware of his real identity.

During the Channel 5 documentary, James Bulger: The New Revelations, in 2018, Thompson’s 2001 parole board statement was made public for the first time.

In his statement, he said: “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.”

Thompson has previously told of leaving the Strand shopping centre in Merseyside and being “aware” Venables had a little boy with him but said they did not sexually abuse the two-year-old and did not speak to each other during the attack.

He said: “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 b******s’ and screaming at the policemen to ‘Hand them over’.”

James’ father Ralph has dismissed Thompson’s attempts at an apology, calling them “false words”.

He said: “I’ll never accept that either of these two is sorry for what they done.”

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