In February 1993, the abduction and murder of two-year-old James Bulger by two ten-year-old boys, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, horrified the nation. While Venables has since reoffended, his accomplice Thompson has lived a life out of the public eye. This is the story of Thompson's time in a secure unit, which he claims made him a "better person".
A Strict Regime and Academic Turnaround
Every detail of the young offenders' lives was meticulously recorded on running sheets, signed by staff and copied to Whitehall officials. At Barton Moss secure unit, Thompson adhered to a strict daily routine, a world away from his previously "feral" existence in Liverpool.
He rose at 7 am for one-to-one lessons, continuing until 3.15 pm. Evenings involved counselling, games, and television before lights out at 10 pm. Remarkably, the former truant thrived academically in this environment, achieving five GCSEs and several A-levels.
Trips to the Pub and a Prison Romance
As part of his preparation for eventual release, Thompson was granted supervised trips outside the unit, sometimes weekly. These outings included shopping trips to Sheffield and Manchester, visits to see Shakespeare plays and ice hockey matches, and even trips to the pub.
Described as creative, Thompson developed a flair for fashion design, even creating a wedding dress as a project. He also showed care for animals at the unit. Reports indicate he formed a relationship with a girl at the mixed-sex unit, though it ended when she moved to foster parents.
Release and a Life in the Shadows
In June 2001, a parole board ruled that Thompson and Venables were no longer a threat to public safety. Having served eight years, the now 18-year-olds were released on lifelong licence with new identities, fabricated documents, and orders never to contact each other or return to Merseyside.
Thompson has not reoffended. By 2006, it was reported he was in steady employment and a long-term relationship with a boyfriend believed to know his true identity. His current whereabouts remain a closely guarded secret.
In a 2001 statement to the parole board, revealed in a 2018 documentary, Thompson apologised, saying he was "desperately sorry" and felt "deeply ashamed". He claimed his eight years in detention had made him a "better person". James Bulger's father, Ralph, dismissed the apology as "false words". The contrasting paths of the two killers continue to fuel debate about rehabilitation, justice, and the possibility of change.
