A ‘despicable’ paedophile scout leader who spent 27 years on the run in Thailand was today told he would die behind bars as he was jailed for 46 years.
Richard Burrows, 81, ‘ruined countless lives’ as he systematically abused 24 boys across Cheshire and the Midlands between 1968 and 1995, a judge said today.
The predator became one of the UK’s most wanted fugitives when he fled the country before his trial was due to take place in 1997.
The trail went completely cold for more than a quarter of a century until last year when officers at Cheshire police ran a manipulated mugshot through a publicly available AI facial recognition program, PimEyes.
After searching through billions of photos online, it unexpectedly came up with a match with ‘Peter Smith’, a British expat living in Thailand, partly thanks to a distinctive mole visible on both his and ‘Peter’s’ jaw.
Burrows was arrested at Heathrow Airport in March last year after returning from Thailand.
In emails found after his eventual arrest, Burrows described ‘living in paradise’ on the tropical island of Phuket.
He had stolen the name from an acquaintance who was terminally ill, which allowed him to fraudulently obtain a genuine passport and leave the country without detection.
This is the moment the evil paedophile was arrested when he landed at Heathrow Airport in March 2024
Richard Burrows is pictured in a police mugshot in 1997, when he was first arrested, and in a more recent one when he was arrested last year and found guilty
Cheshire Police released images of Burrows in Thailand, where he fled to before his trial in 1997
Last month, Burrows was found guilty by a jury at Chester Crown Court of 54 offences including indecent assault of boys, buggery, attempted buggery and indecency with a child.
He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to another 43 offences including indecent assault, making indecent images of children, possession of indecent images of children and four counts of possession of false identity documents with intent.
Passing an extended sentence today with an additional one-year period on licence, the Honorary Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett told Burrows: ‘I recognise you will not be released.
‘You are a despicable man. You have ruined countless lives.
‘These serious sexual assaults were committed by you because you are a predator. You deliberately positioned yourself among groups and communities to get closer to them, and to groom and sexually abuse young boys.’
Judge Everett went on to tell Burrows: ‘I have no doubt that you were never going to come back (to the UK) had you not run out of money and suffered ill-health with cancer, albeit not terminal – presumably because you were not going to get treatment abroad.
‘I have seen no remorse in your behaviour.
‘I recall only too well that when you were interviewed by the police, you did not admit a single thing.
‘You just lied through the back of your teeth because you knew what you did.
‘I see you nodding. Too late now.’
Burrows stared ahead blankly throughout the sentencing before he was led from the dock.
After the defendant left the courtroom, Judge Everett told some of the victims present: ‘I hope that you will find some peace.’
Burrows’ offending in Cheshire took place between 1969 and 1971 while he was employed as a housemaster looking after vulnerable children at Danesford Children’s Home in Congleton.
His victims in the West Midlands and West Mercia areas were abused between 1968 and 1995, the majority through local Scout groups where Burrows worked as a leader.
In each case he befriended the victims by using his position of trust.
Afterwards Elise Carnot, a specialist solicitor at law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp who represents one of the victims, said: ‘It is a huge relief that Burrows has finally been convicted and sentenced.
‘The trial involves 24 survivors, but I am left in no doubt this is just the tip of the iceberg, given Burrows worked in a position of trust with children through both his role with the Scouts and at the school.
‘I hope many more people now feel able to come forward, confident they will be able to access justice.’
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Eleanor Atkinson, who had led the investigation, said: ‘Burrows is a coward, he knew he was guilty in 1997, but rather than face the consequences of his actions, he fled the country after fraudulently obtaining a passport using the identity of an unwell man.
‘He spent the last 27 years, in his own words, ‘living in paradise’.
‘It is clear that he did not spare a thought for his victims, who were trying to live their lives under the shadow of the abuse they had suffered.
Bodycam footage shows the moment Burrows is told he is being arrested after landing at Heathrow. He was put in a wheelchair after stepping off the plane with a walking stick
Richard Burrows, 81, at a previous hearing at Chester Crown Court
‘It is my belief that Burrows hoped, on his return to the UK after so many years, that his offending might have been forgotten about.
‘However, his victims could not forget what he did to them, Cheshire Police did not forget what he had done.
‘The sentence handed to Burrows today will likely see Burrows spend the rest of his life in prison and I hope that this outcome finally provides the victims with some closure.
‘I also hope that this case acts as a warning to any other wanted suspects out there – we will find you and you will be held accountable for your actions.’
Duncan Burrage, International Liaison Officer for the National Crime Agency, said: ‘British paedophiles have gone to Thailand thinking it is a safe haven. It is not.
‘This case is another example of our international officers working closely with Thai law enforcement to track down fugitives, making sure they return to the UK to face the consequences of the crimes.
‘Richard Burrows spent decades on the run and went to great lengths change his identity and live in Thailand, but he has finally faced justice in the UK.
‘I hope this has provided some closure to the individuals he targeted with such serious abuse.’
