James Bulger, Jon Venables: Where is Robert Thompson now?

HE’S behind a famous and shocking crime, but one of James Bulger’s killers has kept a low profile compared to the other. What happened to him?

Jon Venables and Robert Thompson killed James Bulger in a murder that shocked the world. Picture: Supplied

ROBERT Thompson abducted, tortured and murdered two-year-old James Bulger alongside his partner in crime Jon Venables when they were just 10 years old.

Here is what we know about the child killer and who was released from a young offenders’ institution under licence in 2001.

Robert Thompson was born on August 23, 1982 — the fifth of seven children.

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His dad abandoned the family five years before Bulger’s murder — leaving mum Ann devastated, The Sun reported.

She turned to drink and fell into depression, and allegedly tried to take her own life.

The youngster had no record of violence before he was found guilty of killing two-year-old James.

The 36-year-old has not reoffended since being released on licence when he turned 18.

His identity is protected by a worldwide injunction — meaning that even trying to find out where he lives could land you in jail.

WHEN DID HE COME OUT AS GAY?

In 2006, reports claimed Thompson was in a stable gay relationship and had settled well into his local community in the North West of England.

It is believed Thompson remains in a long-term relationship with a man who knows his real identity.

A surveillance camera shows the abduction of two-year-old James Bulger from a shopping mall in Liverpool on February 12, 1993. Picture: BWP Media/Getty Images

WAS THOMPSON THE RINGLEADER?

Detective Phil Roberts was on Merseyside’s serious crime squad when he got a call at 6am on February 13, 1993, about a two-year-old boy who had gone missing from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle.

After bringing in Thompson and Jon Venables for questioning, 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.

“Pure evil, I will never change my mind about that.”

At trial in 1993, Thompson was painted as the ringleader, leading Venables on at every turn.

And even by 2000, top child psychiatrist Sir Michael Rutter claimed the risk posed by Venables on his release was “trivial”.

But when Venables was recalled to jail in 2010, it emerged Thompson had done well at Barton Moss secure unit, in Eccles, Lancashire, showing a growing interest and talent in art.

He had passed five GCSEs, taken A-levels and enjoyed trips to the Lake District and the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Venables has now been caged for 40 months for admitting having a paedophile manual explaining “how to have sex with little girls” as well as over 1000 vile child abuse images.

James Bulger was lured from a Liverpool shopping mall by Robert Thompson and Jon Venables.

THE OTHER KILLER

Just recently it emerged the other killer, Venables, is engaged and plans to marry when he leaves prison.

It’s understood Venables, now 35, proposed last year and his bride is aware of his shocking past according to The Sun.

She also stood by him earlier this month when he was locked up for 40 months for downloading child abuse images.

Officials forced him to tell her who he really was when they realised the pair’s relationship was serious.

Venables and his girlfriend were living together when probation workers discovered a laptop hidden behind a headboard in his bedroom last year.

He was arrested after 1160 files of child abuse images and videos were found with almost 400 considered to be in the depraved category, a court was told.

This article has been reprinted with permission from The Sun.