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A former housemaster and scout leader has been found guilty of nearly 100 offences, including multiple child abuse charges, nearly three decades after fleeing to Thailand.
Richard Burrows, aged 80, was convicted of sexually abusing boys between the late 1960s and mid-1990s while employed at a school in Cheshire and working as a scout leader in the West Midlands.
Burrows evaded the law for almost 30 years after escaping to Thailand just before a scheduled court appearance in 1997.
He was apprehended at Heathrow Airport on March 28 of last year after depleting his finances and returning to the UK, where authorities charged him with over 100 offences committed over nearly three decades.
During proceedings at Chester Crown Court, Burrows admitted to 43 of the 105 charges but contested several others.
On Monday, court officials confirmed that he was found guilty of 54 counts, which included offences related to indecency with a child, indecent assault, and other charges categorized as rape today.
Although he was acquitted of one count of indecent assault at the judge’s discretion and the prosecution withdrew some other charges, Burrows was ultimately convicted on 97 counts. Sentencing is scheduled for April 7.
The jury was informed that Burrows systematically abused boys who were in his proximity.
Mark Connor KC, the prosecutor, stated: “He held roles of trust and responsibility that he exploited for his own sexual gratification.”
Burrows served as a housemaster for troubled adolescents in Cheshire during the 1960s and was later affiliated with scouts and amateur radio groups in the Midlands.
Throughout his trial, Burrows acknowledged being a paedophile but denied the more serious allegations, labeling them as “degrading and disgusting.”
Detective Inspector Eleanor Atkinson of Cheshire Constabulary described Burrows as a “prolific sex offender” who demonstrated no regret for his actions.
In a recovered email, the former scout leader expressed that he enjoyed “living in paradise” while on the run in Thailand for 30 years.
He was located in Chalong, Phuket, in 2023 through specialized facial recognition technology used by investigators.
Detectives discovered that Burrows had been living under a false identity as Peter Smith, a terminally ill man whose identity he had stolen to secure a fraudulent passport to escape the UK in 1997.
DI Atkinson remarked: “While his victims will forever bear the scars of what he inflicted upon them, I hope that Burrows’ accountability will bring them some measure of closure. Tragically, four of his victims have since passed away and did not witness justice served.”
Samantha Thompson, a prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, characterized Burrows as an “unrepentant paedophile,” who took advantage of his trusted position to harm young boys over a span of three decades.
She highlighted the devastating impact on victims, many of whom suffered in silence out of fear of disbelief. In some instances, when they did come forward, they were ignored, allowing Burrows to evade consequences.
During the trial, the prosecution questioned Burrows about his decision to flee to Thailand for several years. In his testimony, he claimed the allegations did not align with his actions and stated he chose Thailand for its sailing opportunities, adding that he wanted to return to the UK after running out of money.
Source
www.theguardian.com