Former Scout Leader Convicted of Child Abuse After 27 Years on the Run

Richard Burrows, an 80-year-old former scout leader, has been convicted of 97 child abuse offences, including indecency and assault, after spending 27 years on the run in Thailand. Burrows fled just before a court appearance in 1997 but was apprehended in 2023. His trial revealed systematic abuse of boys between the 1960s and 1990s, and he will be sentenced on 7 April.

Richard Burrows, an 80-year-old former boarding school housemaster and scout leader, has been convicted of nearly 100 offences, including numerous charges related to child abuse. His predatory actions occurred between the late 1960s and mid-1990s while he was employed at a school in Cheshire and later served as a scout leader in the West Midlands. Nearly three decades after fleeing to Thailand, Burrows was recently apprehended at Heathrow Airport after returning to the UK without funds.

At Chester Crown Court, Burrows admitted to 43 of the 105 charges he faced, disputing the remaining accusations. The court has confirmed his conviction of 54 counts, including indecency with a child, indecent assault, and an offence equated with rape, totalling 97 guilty verdicts. He is set to be sentenced on 7 April. Evidence presented during the trial indicated a pattern of systematic abuse by Burrows towards boys he encountered.

Prosecutor Mark Connor KC emphasized that Burrows exploited his positions of trust to gratify his own sexual desires. His history includes working as a housemaster at a school for troubled teenagers and involvement in youth organizations like the scouts and amateur radio clubs. Although he admitted to being a paedophile, he denied serious allegations, describing them as “degrading and disgusting.”

Detective Inspector Eleanor Atkinson of Cheshire Constabulary remarked on Burrows’s status as a “prolific sex offender” devoid of remorse. Furthermore, it was revealed that he had lived in Thailand under a stolen identity for three decades, relishing his life there. He was eventually identified by law enforcement via advanced facial recognition technology.

It was noted that some victims passed away before seeing justice, with DI Atkinson expressing hope that Burrows’s accountability would provide some closure. Samantha Thompson from the Crown Prosecution Service labeled Burrows an “unrepentant paedophile” who deeply affected the lives of his victims by leveraging his role to facilitate abuse. In court, Burrows deemed the charges against him as exaggerated, stating he fled to Thailand for sailing opportunities and returned home solely due to financial hardship.

Richard Burrows’s conviction serves as a critical reminder of the long-lasting impact of abuse and the importance of accountability. After nearly three decades of evasion, Burrows, who exploited vulnerable children under the guise of trust, now faces the consequences of his heinous actions. As the legal process continues, particularly with his impending sentencing, the revelations from this case underscore the profound suffering of the victims and highlight ongoing challenges in addressing historical abuse cases.

Original Source: www.theguardian.com