Scout leader who ‘lived in paradise’ after going on the run jailed for 46 years
A ‘despicable’ scout leader who went on the run for almost three decades using a stolen identity has been locked up for his sick sex crimes.
Pensioner Richard Burrows will die behind bars after receiving a 46-year jail term for almost 100 crimes.
The former school housemaster systematically abused 24 young boys across the West Midlands, West Mercia and Cheshire areas between 1968 and 1995.
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The 81-year-old ‘deliberately positioned’ himself so he could ‘get closer’ to his victims before grooming them.
A judge said it was ‘one of the most, if not the most serious’ case of its kind he had dealt with.
In emails found after his arrest, Burrows described ‘living in paradise’ from 1997 after he fled to Thailand.
Sentencing today (Wednesday, April 30), 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.”
Burrows was charged with a number of historical sex offences in 1997 but failed to attend a plea hearing at Chester Crown Court in December that year after being bailed by police.
Several police appeals and four Crimewatch appeals on national television were released in a bid to find him.
In April , detectives from Cheshire Police’s serious and organised crime unit used specialist software to search for any possible images of Burrows online.
Officers uncovered a match for a man using the name of Peter Smith, who was living in Chalong in Phuket, Thailand.
Detectives discovered Burrows had stolen the name from an acquaintance who was terminally ill.
The convict managed to fraudulently obtain a genuine passport and leave the country without detection.
Plans were under way to extradite him when he flew into Heathrow Airport after he ran out of money and was diagnosed with cancer.
Burrows was arrested when he arrived in the UK last March.
The sex offender was charged with further offences which were reported after he vanished.
Last month, Burrows was convicted by jurors of 54 offences including indecent assault of boys, buggery, attempted buggery and indecency with a child following a trial at Chester Crown Court.
He admitted 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.
Burrows’ victims in the West Midlands and West Mercia areas were abused between 1968 and 1995, mainly through local Scout groups where Burrows worked as a leader.
His offending in Cheshire took place between 1969 and 1971 when he was employed as a housemaster looking after vulnerable children at a children’s home in Congleton.
In each case, the paedophile befriended the victims by using his position of trust.
Judge Everett said: “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.
He was made subject to an extended sentence, with an extra one-year on licence.
After Burrows left the courtroom, Judge Everett told victims present: “I hope that you will find some peace.”
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