Richard Burrows

Age: 80

Town: Congleton

Convicted: 17/03/2025

Richard Burrows Found Guilty After Almost Three Decades on the Run

Prolific Sex Offender Richard Burrows Found Guilty After Almost Three Decades on the Run

Richard Burrows, an 80-year-old man residing at HMP Altcourse, was found guilty of 54 sexual offences against young boys on March 17, 2025, at Chester Crown Court. This conviction comes after Burrows had previously pleaded guilty to 43 other offences, including indecent assault, possession of indecent images of children, and using false identity documents.

Burrows systematically abused 24 young boys between 1968 and 1995 across Cheshire, the West Midlands, and West Mercia. His victims were primarily targeted through his positions of trust within local Scout groups and Danesford Children's Home in Congleton, where he worked as a Housemaster.

He exploited his authority and personal connections to gain the trust of both the boys and their families before committing the abuse. While some victims attempted to speak out at the time, many were silenced by fear or disbelief. It wasn't until the 1990s that several victims gained the courage to come forward following revelations about similar offences in other institutions.

Following allegations against Burrows in relation to Danesford Children's Home, Cheshire Police launched a large-scale investigation in 1994. Burrows was initially arrested in April 1997 and charged with multiple counts of indecent assault and buggery. However, he failed to appear at his scheduled court hearing on December 8, 1997, disappearing into hiding.

For the next 27 years, detectives tirelessly pursued leads and conducted numerous enquiries to locate Burrows. Despite extensive efforts, including national wanted appeals and international checks, no trace of him could be found. In a breakthrough in April 2023, specialist software used by Cheshire Police identified Burrows living under the alias "Peter Smith" in Thailand. He had stolen this identity from a terminally ill acquaintance to fraudulently obtain a passport and escape detection.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) were immediately involved, initiating extradition proceedings. However, Burrows planned to return to the UK under his assumed name. Thai authorities, alerted by the NCA, monitored his travel, leading to his arrest upon arrival at Heathrow Airport.

Following his arrest, further charges were brought against Burrows for offences reported since his disappearance. Several victims came forward after seeing news of his capture, emboldened to share their stories after years of silence.

Richard Burrows's photo

Offender ID: Richard-Burrows-17032025

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