Do you know of anyone who had a tougher childhood (first 10 years) than Jon Venables or Robert Thompson?

• Thompson Raised: Walton Lane, Walton, Liverpool (that may be unpleasant enough already) Father: Violent alcoholic criminal who frequently assaulted his wife and children (including Robert). Went off with another woman after his release from prison, a few years before the James Bulger tragedy. Mother: Spent more time in the local public houses than she did looking after her children. Overweight, suicidal and was 'cruel' to her children at times (in her own words, possibly alot worse in reality). Siblings: Bullied mercilessly by his four older brothers (they all went into care eventually). He, in turn, bullied his younger brother, Ryan. Had a baby brother as well, who was often left in the care of Robert, due to Ann Thompson's other priorities. Additional info: Lost house in a fire when his father left him, mother was virtually penniless (spent what she had on booze). Bullied by his peers for his chubby face/build, tendency to suck his thumb and for being a 'sissy' compared to some of the other boys (i.e. having female friends, collecting troll dolls). May have been struggling with his sexuality as early as 10, and it is now strongly rumoured that he is a homosexual living with his male partner. Venables Raised: Lower lane, Walton, Liverpool Father: Often out of work and divorced from his mother. Never violent, but frequently arguing with Susan Venables. Mother: Vain and promiscuous (entertaining hoards of men in her home). Frequently reprimanded Jon using corporal punishment. Often very neglectful of her children as well. Siblings: Both had learning difficulties and were openly mocked by the local children as being 'backward'. AI: An easy target for bullies (fragile, squint in his eye), often had to wear wet clothes to school (mother wasn't much better than Ann Thompson) Still a dreadful environment to be brought up in, although he was from a slightly more affluent and competent household than Thompson.

• Answer:

  I'm a foster carer. I could site you a hundred worse examples. The horrific circumstances of some children's upbringing would make a grown man cry. I am well aware of the statistics demonstrating that the abused go on to become the abusers and I've no doubt there's some truth in it. It's a tragedy that Venables and Thompson didn't get the help they needed, when they needed it.