The baffling 27 years of Richard Burrows, aka. ‘Peter Smith’

[snoop1130]

 

So how did he manage to evade detection, in plain sight, during his 27 years in Phuket? ‘Peter Smith’ was, mostly, well liked, had a close circle of friends, worked professionally in a number of jobs, all with the requisite visas and work permits required in Thailand.

 

How did he get a passport with the name ‘Peter Smith’? How could he keep getting renewals of a stolen passport? How did he get to Thailand in the first place? How much did close friends actually know about his dark past?

 

80 year old Richard Burrows, aka. ‘Peter Smith’, who had evaded authorities for nearly thirty years, was apprehended upon his return to the UK from Thailand, according to police reports.

 

I had known him, professionally but spasmodically, for 10 years working in and around the media in Phuket. The man I knew as Peter Smith was at every media function, free lunch, product launch or party. I hardly ever spoke more than a few words but could see he was liked and generally respected in the Phuket media community, and rubbed shoulders with the local hoi polloi, police and respected community leaders.

 

He wasn’t even slightly trying to hide. Indeed he was living large, and in plain sight.

 

Many of those same people now say they feel betrayed, or at least shocked, upon learning of the appalling crimes he is alleged to have committed all those years ago in the UK.

Grenville Fordham, the founder of IMAGE Asia, and a long-term acquaintance of ‘Peter Smith’, was understandably mortified by the revelations of his past criminal history. Grenville was quoted in The Phuket News last week…
“Nobody who knew ’Peter’ here would have guessed he was wanted for such dreadful crimes. He was a very well-liked Phuket expat with a wide circle of friends”.

 

Burrows had skipped his trial for child sex offences at Chester Crown Court back in 1997. He arrived in Phuket that same year.

 

Cheshire Police disclosed that he was taken into custody at Heathrow Airport on Thursday, April 4 (reported as March 28 in other articles). The charges pertain to alleged child abuse incidents spanning from 1969 to 1981. Burrows was a former scout master as well.

 

In his first hearing, since being arrested at Heathrow, the 13 counts of sexual misconduct, including 11 of indecent assault and two of a serious sexual offence, were read out by the judge. According to the BBC, proceedings were briefly delayed due to his hearing difficulties.

 

Mr Burrows spoke only twice during the court appearance – to confirm his non-appearance at court 27 years ago, and again to acknowledge the successful execution, albeit 27 years late, of his arrest warrant.

 

Burrows had originally arrived in Phuket in 1997, living on the island under the name Peter Smith – the name in the passport he had allegedly stolen from one of his victim’s father. Somehow he was able to use this passport as ID to set up companies and even renewals for a new UK passport during his time in Thailand.

 

Many questions are being raised how a passport, assumed to have been reported missing by the real ‘Peter Smith’ in the UK, would be able to be used for such a long time without detection. During that time he would have completed numerous 90 day reports , visa renewals and UK passport renewals through the British Embassy in Thailand.

 

Some stories, unconfirmed, have also come to light that he had stolen a yacht in the UK and, somehow, made his way to South East Asia. He did buy another yacht whilst living in Phuket which he lived on in Chalong Bay for many years.

 

Mr Burrows had set up his own company and taught English at Phuket schools from time to time before becoming a successful sales agent for Image Asia and the publication Windows on Phuket.

 

Peter’ at his farewell dinner just days before flying back to the UK.

 

Police in the UK claim there was an “extensive search for Burrows”, including being featured on the BBC’s Crimewatch program in 1998. Some offences were alleged to have occurred at a children’s home in Cheshire, while others were reported in the West Midlands.

 

Although he had denied all charges back in 1997, Burrows is expected to enter pleas again at a hearing scheduled for June this year. He will remain in custody waiting for further hearings, with a trial set for January next year.

 

The BBC ‘Crimewatch’ TV program featured his story again in 2011…

By Tim Newton

Caption: Richard Burrows, aka. 'Peter Smith', before his first appearance in Court after his arrest at Heathrow

 

Full story: Phuket GO 2024-04-11

 

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[GroveHillWanderer]

The linked article provides an explanation of how he got the passport - it was apparently stolen from the father of one of his victims. 

 

As for renewing it - well, when you think about it all you need to renew a British passport from abroad is a passing resemblance to the previous holder and somebody (usually, but not necessarily, a British citizen) to sign saying that they've known you for several years and can vouch for your identity.

[swerve]

UK passport service and other agencies dropped the ball on this one.  I am amazed that a stolen passport can be used and renewed for so long.

[Moonlover]

17 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

The linked article provides an explanation of how he got the passport - it was apparently stolen from the father of one of his victims. 

 

As for renewing it - well, when you think about it all you need to renew a British passport from abroad is a passing resemblance to the previous holder and somebody (usually, but not necessarily, a British citizen) to sign saying that they've known you for several years and can vouch for your identity.

I have never had to have anyone to sign to say they have known me for several years and I've lost count of how many passports that is.

 

9 minutes ago, swerve said:

UK passport service and other agencies dropped the ball on this one.  I am amazed that a stolen passport can be used and renewed for so long.

A passport that has been reported stolen would immediately be cancelled so you're right, it does seem somewhat incredulous. But there is one possible explanation, that the real 'Peter Smith' never reported it missing in the first place. If he wasn't much of a travelling man he may never have noticed.

[BangkokReady]

54 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

How much did close friends actually know about his dark past?

 

Is the Phuket Go trying to get his friends in trouble?  They probably didn't know anything about it.  Why would he bring it up at all to anyone?

[ukrules]

I wonder if he went back to the UK multiple times over the years.

 

This is not about a stolen passport, he assumed the identity of the real guy named 'Peter Smith', once he did that it would have been plain sailing for him unless the original guy noticed.

Had the real Peter Smith at any point attempted to get a passport back in the UK then his number would have been up immediately, perhaps this is how they got him as they were ready and waiting for him on arrival.

 

There's still one piece of the puzzle missing though - how did they know this particular guy was the same on who did a runner all those years ago?

[ChrisP24]

My first thought at the pic as that he looks like crap.  But then I see that he is 80?  He looks quite good for 80. 

 

Inasmuch as he stole the identity 27 years ago, that would pre-date many of the modern databases, so his info just got loaded in as they were implemented.   I doubt the same thing is possible or at least more than extremely rare today from a western country, without paying a lot of money and knowing who to pay it to. 

[RobU]

If he is a child molester, did he continue his activities in Thailand?

[Robbkk]

10 hours ago, swerve said:

UK passport service and other agencies dropped the ball on this one

 

Thai immigration dropped the ball. They let this guy in with somebody else's passport and kept renewing his visa for 27 years.

 

 

 

 

[ryandb]

Well, that answers the PP question, I'm not shocked by being able to renew it honestly, it was pre-biometric passports and as long as he looked close to the original guy (race and eye colour) then he would have likely gotten in no problems then on the first renewal switch to his photo and from there on plain sailing unless the original guy reported it stolen. He may never have traveled again, had the passport before the kid put it in the drawer, and couldn't afford travel until maybe the past few years, went to apply for a new one and suddenly it came to light.

[sammieuk1]

Sounds like he could have been aka. Jimmy Saville and no one would have noticed 🤔

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

52 minutes ago, RobU said:

If he is a child molester, did he continue his activities in Thailand?

I wonder how many side trips he made to Cambodia.  

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Many questions are being raised how a passport, assumed to have been reported missing by the real ‘Peter Smith’ in the UK, would be able to be used for such a long time without detection. During that time he would have completed numerous 90 day reports , visa renewals and UK passport renewals through the British Embassy in Thailand

Rather embarrassing...

[Ironmike]

Well the upside for this sick POS is that he will die in prison where he belongs and when his new inmate friends find out what he has done well he's going to get what he deserves good riddens. 

[Iron Tongue]

My unsolicited guess is that the real Peter Smith never reported his passport as stolen, and never got a replacement.  This helped Richard Burrows became 'Peter Smith' in Thailand and was able to get away with this for so long.  

As a successful businessman playing by the rules, the Thais wouldn't have scrutinized his renewals after entry.

My thoughts are that since he is an offending pedophile, and sex predators have the highest rate of recidivism, what has he been doing during the past 27-years?  

[Zack61]

13 minutes ago, Ironmike said:

Well the upside for this sick POS is that he will die in prison where he belongs and when his new inmate friends find out what he has done well he's going to get what he deserves good riddens. 

I know of a pedo who, within a few days of incarceration, was in hospital with a broom stick inserted into where the sun don’t shine. 
Sleep well Richard. 

[Dogmatix]

12 hours ago, Moonlover said:

I have never had to have anyone to sign to say they have known me for several years and I've lost count of how many passports that is.

 

A passport that has been reported stolen would immediately be cancelled so you're right, it does seem somewhat incredulous. But there is one possible explanation, that the real 'Peter Smith' never reported it missing in the first place. If he wasn't much of a travelling man he may never have noticed.

used to need someone to vouch your photo was a true likeness at the embassy and consular staff were willing to do that. Since the embassy stopped issuing passports this requirement is only for first time adult passports, as far as I am aware.

[RobU]

1 hour ago, Ironmike said:

Well the upside for this sick POS is that he will die in prison where he belongs and when his new inmate friends find out what he has done well he's going to get what he deserves good riddens. 

Unfortunately critically ill or dying prisoners tend to be released on parole for compassionate reasons in the UK

[Chongalulu]

50 minutes ago, Zack61 said:

I know of a pedo who, within a few days of incarceration, was in hospital with a broom stick inserted into where the sun don’t shine. 
Sleep well Richard. 

So he made sweeping changes to his life...

[Chongalulu]

1 hour ago, Ironmike said:

Well the upside for this sick POS is that he will die in prison where he belongs and when his new inmate friends find out what he has done well he's going to get what he deserves good riddens. 

Actually he lived out the better part of his life totally free and at 80 with likely just a few years left will have paid for care and be in a segregated unit for sex offenders. For him a fat better option than a lengthy jail sentence in early 50s and being on the offenders register thereafter. Sorry to burst your bubble..

[thesetat]

2 hours ago, Robbkk said:

 

Thai immigration dropped the ball. They let this guy in with somebody else's passport and kept renewing his visa for 27 years.

 

 

 

 

Thai immigration did not keep renewing this guys passport. They went by their own records from years past of simply renewing the same visa he had in their system. This has nothing to do with Thai immigration.

[thailand49]

🤔Classic,  tired of running, keep your enemies close, obvious paying to get his renewal each year.

Maybe his passport was soon up chances of another renewal happening?  Tired of paying off expeditors, paying double for medical care, if guilty back home has those 27 years here been clean or its about to explore here with victims?

Jail, in Brit sure he feels safer, 3 sq a day with quicker medical care until he gets his shaft for being a kiddie F.

[Nickcage49]

If you're a criminal and you want to hide, this is the place.

[Mr Meeseeks]

Wow, such a revelation! I quite liked his train blog too. 

[BritScot]

14 hours ago, swerve said:

UK passport service and other agencies dropped the ball on this one.  I am amazed that a stolen passport can be used and renewed for so long.

Aren't British Passports done in Hong Kong (I know they used to be). Years ago "11 years". I went to the embassy in Bkk to have my daughter birth registered as British.  The embassy told me all the documentation were correct. However, when sent for processing  in Hong Kong someone decided I also needed my parents marriage certificate and birth certificates. I was so angry. 

[oxo1947]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

During that time he would have completed numerous 90 day reports

 

There were no 90 day reports in that era --we all had to leave the country every 90 days--then try to get back in.

[crazykopite]

Was be collecting an old age pension ! Did he go back to the UK and hand himself in to the immigration ! Did he flee from Thailand knowing that he committed abuse offences and thought better to be in a UK prison than the Bangkok Hilton all these unanswered questions eventually it will all come out in court during his trial and I suspect there are countless others living in Thailand escaping for crimes committed in there own country 

[stevenl]

13 minutes ago, oxo1947 said:

 

There were no 90 day reports in that era --we all had to leave the country every 90 days--then try to get back in.

No, not with the correct extensions there was no need for that.

[rumeaug]

Quite a fit :). But until let say the mid-2010's, it was still "relatively" easy to stay under the radar etc....Thailand has changed enormously in just the past 10 years ( Well.. so has the rest of the world indeed). "Easy going" is definitely a word from the past now in so many ways. Gone are the days.

[Moonlover]

10 hours ago, ChrisP24 said:

My first thought at the pic as that he looks like crap.  But then I see that he is 80?  He looks quite good for 80. 

I certainly hope I don't look that rough at 80.