Ex-Scout Leader Convicted of Child Sex Offences After 27 Years on the Run
Richard Burrows, 80, has been convicted of nearly 100 child abuse offences after spending 27 years on the run in Thailand. He fled just prior to a court appearance in 1997 and returned to the UK in 2022, where he was arrested. Found guilty of 54 counts including indecency and assault, he will be sentenced on April 7. Observers note the ongoing implications for his victims, many of whom had been silenced.
Richard Burrows, an 80-year-old former boarding school housemaster and scout leader, has been convicted of nearly 100 offences involving child abuse, following nearly three decades evading justice in Thailand. His criminal activities predominantly occurred between the late 1960s and mid-1990s while employed in Cheshire and later engaged with scouting in the West Midlands.
Burrows fled to Thailand on the eve of his court appearance in 1997. His flight resulted in his status as a fugitive for 27 years until his arrest at Heathrow Airport on March 28, 2022, after he returned to the UK due to financial difficulties. Upon his return, he faced over 100 charges, to which he admitted to 43, while denying others.
At Chester Crown Court, Burrows was found guilty of 54 counts, including indecency with a child, indecent assault, and what is now classified as rape, bringing his total convictions to 97 offences. Burrows was not convicted on one count of indecent assault, and the prosecution did not pursue several other allegations. Sentencing is set for April 7.
During the trial, Burrows was portrayed as a systematic abuser, described by prosecutor Mark Connor KC as someone who breached positions of trust and responsibility to exploit young boys. Although he acknowledged being a paedophile, he refuted more serious charges, labeling them as “degrading and disgusting.”
Detective Inspector Eleanor Atkinson of Cheshire Constabulary highlighted Burrows’ lack of remorse, labeling him a “prolific sex offender.” Investigators eventually tracked him down in Phuket, Thailand, employing specialized facial recognition software. Burrows had used a false identity to navigate his years of hiding.
Atkinson expressed hope that Burrows’ accountability might provide some closure to his victims, although many have since passed away. Samantha Thompson from the Crown Prosecution Service condemned Burrows as an “unrepentant paedophile” and emphasized the long-lasting impact of his abuse on the victims, many of whom were dismissed when they came forward. Burrows explained his flight to Thailand by insisting he was innocent of most charges and misrepresented his motives for sailing there.
The case of Richard Burrows serves as a stark reminder of the long-lasting effects of child abuse and the complexities of prosecuting historical sexual offences. After evading justice for nearly three decades, Burrows has been convicted of a disturbing number of crimes that exploited his positions of trust. The accountability he now faces provides a measure of hope for his victims, although many will never receive the closure they deserve.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
