Danesford sex offender found guilty

Prolific sex offender, Richard Burrows, has been found guilty of numerous sexual offences against young boys.

Burrows was found guilty of 54 offences, including indecent assault of boys, buggery, attempted buggery and indecency with a child.

The 80-year-old, of HMP Altcourse, had already pleaded guilty to 43 offences, including indecent assault of boys, making indecent images of children, possession of indecent images of children and four counts of possession of false identity documents with intent, at an earlier hearing.

Burrows was remanded in custody for sentencing on Monday 7 April.

The court heard that between 1968 and 1995 Burrows systematically abused 26 young boys across Cheshire, West Midlands and West Mercia.

The offences in Cheshire occurred between 1969 and 1971 while he was working as a Housemaster, looking after vulnerable children at Danesford Children’s Home in Congleton.

While some of his victims attempted to speak out at the time, many simply did not feel that they would be believed.

It wasn’t until revelations surfaced in relation to offences at other children’s homes that victims began to come forward.

Following the allegations in relation to the offences at Danesford Children’s Home, a large-scale investigation was launched by detectives from Cheshire Police in 1994.

Burrows was initially arrested in April 1997 and was subsequently charged in May 1997 with two counts of buggery and 11 counts of indecent assault in relation to the offences in Cheshire and some in the West Midlands.

He was released on bail but failed to attend court and disappeared to Thailand.

No trace could be found until Serious and Organised Crime Unit detectives employed software to search for images of Burrows online.

A match was made with a man using the name of Peter Smith, living in Chalong in Phuket, Thailand.

Detectives found that Burrows had stolen the name Peter Smith from a terminally ill acquaintance. Burrows was able to secure a false passport and leave the country.

Detective Inspector Eleanor Atkinson, who led the investigation, said: “Our determination to locate Burrows over the past 27 years has not faltered and I welcome the verdict reached by the jury.

“It is clear that he is a prolific sex offender. He systematically abused his victims, specifically targeting vulnerable boys in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

“Following his initial charges in 1997, Burrows knew he was guilty but rather than face the consequences of his actions, he acted like a coward and fled the country using a stolen identity taken from an unwell man.

“In emails that we have found since his arrest, Burrows described how he has spent the past three decades ‘living in paradise’, while his victims have all been left to suffer as they struggled to try and rebuild their lives.

“Thankfully, following our determination, he has finally been held accountable for his actions and is now behind bars where he belongs.

“It was clear throughout his trial that he did not feel remorse and had not thought at any point while living abroad about the impact his abuse had on his young victims.

“While his victims will never be able to forget what happened to them, I hope that the fact that Burrows has now been held accountable will finally provide them with some closure. Sadly, four of his victims have now passed away and so did not get to see justice served.

“I also hope that this case acts as a warning to any other wanted suspects – demonstrating that no matter how long you hide, we will find you and you will be held accountable.”

Detective Inspector Atkinson added: “Cheshire Constabulary takes any allegation of sexual offences extremely seriously, no matter how long ago they relate to, as this case shows.

“Any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority. Victims should never feel ashamed to talk about what they have been subjected to.

“They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside, and all victims of sexual offences have the right to anonymity for life.”

Sexual offences can be reported to Cheshire Constabulary via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report or by calling 101.

They can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers, via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously

If you have any specific information relating to the Burrows case which you wish to share, please visit https://mipp.police.uk/operation/07CH23D51