Returning from Thailand, Paedophile Richard Burrows was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Thursday, March 28. Mainly through local Scout groups that Richard Burrows led, his victims in the West Midlands and West Mercia districts were young boys who suffered between 1968 and 1995.
While he was caring for vulnerable youngsters at Danesford youngsters’s Home in Congleton, Cheshire, the offences took place between 1969 and 1971.
These concern 26 victims and offences in Cheshire, West Midlands, and West Mercia between 1968 and 1995.
Richard Burrows was sought for decades.
Following his arrest, the eighty-year-old showed up in Court on April 2. He was remanded in custody and scheduled to appear in Chester Crown Court today, August 5.
Today, August 5, Chesire Constabulary has informed the public of further accusations lodged against Richard Burrows, including two counts of Buggery and twenty-one instances of indecent assault.
His total is 93, including six counts of Buggery contrary, 78 counts of Indecent Assault, two counts of Indecency with a child, three counts of Making Indecent Images of Children and four counts of Possession of a False Identity Document with Intent.
Since December 1997, Cheshire Police have sought the 80-year-old, failing to show up for Chester Crown Court for his scheduled two counts of buggery and eleven counts of indecent assault.
The statement read, “Richard Burrows was arrested on Thursday, 28 March, at Heathrow Airport having returned to the UK from Thailand.
“After his arrest, the 80-year-old showed up in Court on Tuesday, April 2. He was remanded in custody and will next show up at Chester Crown Court on Monday, August 5.
“Based on four victims, the Crown Prosecution has approved more charges before his hearing.
“These concern 26 victims and offences carried out in Cheshire, West Midlands, and West Mercia between 1968 and 1995.
“While he was caring for vulnerable children at Danesford Children’s Home in Congleton, Cheshire’s crimes took place between 1969 and 1971.
“His victims in the West Midlands and West Mercia areas were all young boys who were abused between 1968 and 1995, the most through local Scout groups where Richard Burrows worked as a leader.”
UPDATE 280124
A fugitive Scout leader charged with child sex offences informed the police that he had resided in ‘paradise’ for 27 years following his arrest upon returning from Thailand, a court was informed.
Richard Burrows, aged 80, absconded from the UK before to his court appearance in December 1997, as presented to a jury at Chester Crown Court.
He informed his brother that ‘not all paedophiles are identical’ while he strategised his return to the UK in March of the previous year.
Richard Burrows, a native of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, refutes four charges of buggery, two charges of indecency with a minor, two charges of attempted buggery, and 47 instances of indecent assault involving 10 complainants aged between nine and 15, occurring from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s.
The identities of the victims, as complainants of sexual offences, remain undisclosed.
Mark Connor, presenting the prosecution’s evidence, informed the jury of eight women and four men that Richard Burrows had routinely assaulted boys over an extended period.
Mr. Connor stated: “He acquired positions of trust and responsibility, which he violated to fulfil his sexual desires with the minors.”
In the 1960s, Richard Burrows served as a housemaster at a school in Cheshire, where he purportedly exploited vulnerable youths.
He participated as a Scout leader in the Scouts and engaged in amateur radio organisations.
The jury was informed that Richard Burrows acknowledges committing indecent assault and sexual touching of several youths under his supervision.
However, he refutes allegations of abusing other minors and engaging in any penetrative sexual acts, distinguishing between such acts and sexual contact, which he seemingly rationalises as permissible as he believes he caused no harm, the jury was informed.
He asserts that the complainants in this trial are either erroneous on the identify of the perpetrator or are deceitful.
Mr. Connor stated that Richard Burrows was initially apprehended in April 1997, and his residence in Birmingham was subjected to a search.
A collection of magazines depicting adolescent and prepubescent boys involved in sexual activities was discovered sewn into one of his coats.
He faced charges of child sexual offences and was scheduled to appear at Chester Crown Court on December 8, 1997.
A warrant for his arrest was issued due to his failure to attend.
Richard Burrows escaped to Thailand under the alias Peter Leslie Smith, having appropriated an acquaintance’s identity and acquired a passport in that name, as presented at the trial.
He was apprehended at Heathrow Airport upon his return to the UK on the eve of his 80th birthday last March.
“After experiencing 27 years in paradise, as he described his time spent evading capture,” stated Mr. Connor.
The police solicited information regarding Richard Burrows on BBC TV’s Crimewatch show, leading to an increase in complainants.
The trial is anticipated to endure for a duration of up to five weeks.
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