Ok, I cracked that code open, and think that putting in the following will work
add_action( 'bbp_theme_before_topic_title', 'assylumn_insert_thumbnail' );
function assylumn_insert_thumbnail() {
echo('<a href="http://www.mysite.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/picture.jpg">') ;
echo('<img class="bbp-topic-thumbnail" width="100%" style="max-width: ' . get_option('thumbnail_size_w') . 'px; max-height: ' . get_option('thumbnail_size_h'). 'px; vertical-align:middle;" src="http://www.mysite.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/picture.jpg"/>' .'</a>');
}
Obviously you’ll need to change the URL to your image
You’ll need to add this to your functions file, if you don’t know how to do this, come back !