Richard Burrows, Phuket's 'Peter Smith', faces 30 more charges

[webfact]

 

A man arrested at Heathrow Airport after nearly three decades on the run is now facing almost 30 more charges.

 

Richard Burrows, 80, was apprehended on 28th March upon his return from Thailand. He had been a fugitive since December 1997, when he failed to show up at Chester Crown Court.

 

Richard Burrows was arrested at Heathrow Airport. Picture courtesy: Mirror

 

Burrows was originally due to stand trial for two counts of buggery and 11 counts of indecent assault. The initial charges originated from allegations of abuse at a children’s home in Congleton, Cheshire, dating back to 1969-1971, and in the West Midlands from 1971-1981.

 

Following his recent arrest, Burrows made a court appearance on 2nd April and was remanded in custody. Now, further investigations have led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising an additional 30 charges against him.

The new charges include:

 

- 20 counts of indecent assault,
- 1 count of buggery,
- 3 counts of making indecent images of children, relating to one Category A image, two Category B images, and one Category C image,
- 4 counts of possessing a false identity document with intent.

 

These additional charges involve 11 more victims, and the offences occurred between 1966 and 1996, spanning Cheshire, the West Midlands, and West Mercia. All charges are set to be heard at Chester Crown Court on 2nd August.

 

Det. Chief Inspector Ian Smith of Cheshire Police stated, “We are committed to seeking justice, irrespective of how much time has passed. This case demonstrates our dedication to pursuing those who commit such serious offences.”

 

The case has brought renewed attention to historical abuse investigations and the importance of bringing long-seeking justice to victims.

 

Burrows remains in custody as the legal proceedings continue to unfold. The case is expected to be closely followed by both the media and public, given the extensive time span and nature of the charges involved.

 

Top: Richard John Ramsey Burrows, now aged 80, failed to turn up for a trial at Chester Crown Court in 1997. Picture courtesy: Liverpool Echo

 

-- 2024-06-24

 

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[theshu25]

Can only hope the animal dies in jail.

[Thechook]

59 minutes ago, theshu25 said:

Can only hope the animal dies in jail.

I think there is a very good chance of that.  I wonder how many kids he fiddled with in Thailand.

[webfact]

British pedophile’s 30-year Thai escape leads to 30 new charges
by Bob Scott

 

Picture courtesy of the Daily Mirror

 

A British pedophile arrested at a London airport after hiding in Thailand for almost 30 years is facing an additional 30 historic sex-related charges.

 

Richard Burrows, one of the UK’s “most wanted” fugitives, saw his 50-year reign of terror come to an end when he was apprehended on Thursday, March 28, at Heathrow Airport after hiding in Thailand and evading capture for 27 years on allegations of child sex attacks.

 

The 80 year old pedophile had been a fugitive since December 1997, when he failed to show up at Chester Crown Court to face trial for two counts of buggery and 11 counts of indecent assault. The initial charges stemmed from allegations of abuse at a children’s home in Congleton, Cheshire, during 1969-1971 and in the West Midlands from 1971-1981.

Following these accusations, Burrows, a former Scoutmaster from Audlem, Cheshire, went into hiding.

After his recent arrest, Burrows appeared in court on April 2 and was remanded in custody. Further investigations by the Crown Prosecution Service have resulted in 30 additional charges being authorised against him.

 

These include 20 counts of indecent assault, one count of buggery, three counts of making indecent images of children (one Category A, two Category B, and one Category C), and four counts of possessing a false identity document with intent.

 

The new charges involve 11 more victims and span the period from 1966 to 1996 across Cheshire, the West Midlands, and West Mercia. All charges are scheduled to be heard at Chester Crown Court on August 2.

 

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Smith of Cheshire Police stated his delight in finally bringing the deviant to justice.

 

“We are committed to seeking justice, irrespective of how much time has passed. This case demonstrates our dedication to pursuing those who commit such serious offences.”

 

Burrows’ case has refocused attention on historical abuse investigations and the crucial need to deliver long-awaited justice to victims, reported the Daily Mirror.

 

Burrows remains in custody as legal proceedings progress. With its far-reaching timescale and serious charges, the case is anticipated to garner significant media and public interest.

 

Picture of Richard Burrows courtesy of the Daily Mirror

 

Source: The Thaiger  2024-06-24

 

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[Gottfrid]

Good for him. Now his last years in retirement is going to be great. However, I am sad he is arrested in the UK, as he probably done the same in Thailand. Would have been more appropriate with a Thai jail for his remaining years.

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 minute ago, Gottfrid said:

Would have been more appropriate with a Thai jail for his remaining years.

 

He will be worse off in a UK jail as a nonce. 

[LivinginKata]

How could have stayed in Thailand for almost 30 years on a fake passport ? Renewed passport each 10 years ?  UK home office got a lot to answer.

[bullseye66]

7 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

He will be worse off in a UK jail as a nonce. 

But he'll be on rule 43. He'll be segregated from normal prisoners and will be on a wing with other sexual offenders. A luxury he wouldn't get in Thailand.

[Gottfrid]

9 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

He will be worse off in a UK jail as a nonce. 

No, they will keep him isolated with others of his kind. Besides that he will get access to TV, and modern facilities as well as pretty good food. 

Edited June 24 by Gottfrid

[LivinginKata]

3 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

No, they will keep him isolated with others of his kind. Besides that he will get access to TV, and modern facilities as well as pretty good food. 

 

And excellent free health without waiting in the long queue. That's why he turned himself in .....  

[Cabradelmar]

Strange he would risk traveling to the UK now after almost 30 years successfully hiding out in the LoS... my guess he was evading an inevitable arrest/charges in THA for similar crimes, or he's terminally ill and will be dead soon anyways. 

[dougieboy]

Wonder how many offences went unpunished over the last 30 years in Thailand?

never mind the justice system in the UK will take real good care of him, shame he hasn’t been jailed in Thailand

[hotchilli]

27 years too late

[Jenkins9039]

Makes you wonder why he went back home - I should note i've personally conversed with the guy around Chalong Yacht Club a decade ago, I understand he has cancer, but with his age and survivability its somewhat surprising the nonce decided to opt to return to the UK, when he could have just swanned around Cambodia etc till he croaked.

 

In addition, why didn't the UK seek extradition when it was obvious they were giving a passport (second) to a different person than the kids father that was assaulted all those years ago (stolen ID relates to that).

 

Lastly why on earth didn't Thailand just indict him themselves, since this has come to light his 'social media' looked at in a different light begs the question on whether he assaulted Thai(s) -> Very likely.

 

In addition lastly, there was quite a close knit group of expats around him personal life and commercial life -> how the <deleted> did they miss the signs.

[Hakuna Matata]

Oh, my God! What a disgrace for Thailand as it remains a safe heaven for fugitives and criminals from all over the world including United States and United Kingdom!

 

Stricter visa rules are required!

[Mywayboy]

Read the Nonce has Cancer that's the good news hope he suffers in his morbid dying days.

Condolences to all his still suffering victims.

[Sydebolle]

Call me old-fashioned but pedophiles, rapists and drug dealers - off to the gallows. Rid the society permanently of such creatures while not burdening the tax payer with de facto hotel level imprisonment for life. 

But the do-gooders, tree huggers and the likes are of course opposing this in the interest of a single "lost soul". If it would have happened to my wife, children and grand children, there would be only a court case involving me! 

[Foxx]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

1 count of buggery,

 

Shoddy reporting.  There is no longer an offence of "buggery" in English law.  Assume what he did was have anal intercourse without consent, he was probably charged with rape under section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

[Captain Flack]

A poor attempt at humour, trying to link this to blogger Richard Barrow has been removed.

[OneMoreFarang]

Not to be confused with Richard Barrow.

I write this because when I read the headline, I made that mistake.

 

 

 

 

[kuzmabruk]

41 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Good for him. Now his last years in retirement is going to be great. However, I am sad he is arrested in the UK, as he probably done the same in Thailand. Would have been more appropriate with a Thai jail for his remaining years.

Probably sick and wanted free quality medical, which wouldn’t be as free if he stayed in Thailand 

[prakhonchai nick]

2 hours ago, theshu25 said:

Can only hope the animal dies in jail.

Best he died with no jail involved.

[Ben Zioner]

Oohhh these Brits !..

[Jackbenimble]

why are they bringing even more out of date charges against him? I would likehim to rot in jail but there is a stature of limitation here and he is well outside of it.

They will need something more recent or a Lawyer will have him out in no time and the CPS could find themselves on the wrong end of a Law suit themselves. 

It might even be what he was banking on seeing how litigious Britain has become. 

[Jackbenimble]

27 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

Oh, my God! What a disgrace for Thailand as it remains a safe heaven for fugitives and criminals from all over the world including United States and United Kingdom!

 

Stricter visa rules are required!

you're assuming he committed offences while he was here? No mention of that anywhere in the article. 

[4MyEgo]

If he is guilty and charged, perhaps a mishap at the court stairs on the way out would save everyone a lot of expense, with those pounds going to others more worthy of it.

 

Also if there is a hell, may he burn with pain for the next 80 years.

 

[AustinRacing]

14 minutes ago, Jackbenimble said:

you're assuming he committed offences while he was here? No mention of that anywhere in the article. 

True. However it’s rare for pedos to stop. 

[alanrchase]

32 minutes ago, Jackbenimble said:

why are they bringing even more out of date charges against him? I would likehim to rot in jail but there is a stature of limitation here and he is well outside of it.

They will need something more recent or a Lawyer will have him out in no time and the CPS could find themselves on the wrong end of a Law suit themselves. 

It might even be what he was banking on seeing how litigious Britain has become. 

No statute of limitations in the UK for serious sex offences. 

[prakhonchai nick]

Since the alleged offences occurred in a childrens home, it is to be assumed children were involved. Such offences if they occurred warrant a death sentence. Are any of the UK  election candidates supporting reintroduction of the death penalty?

Edited June 24 by prakhonchai nick

[bamnutsak]

So has he been living in Thailand for ~ 27 years?

 

Legally? 

 

Did he renew his U.K. passport several times?

 

Did he interact with children here in Thailand?

 

If I were a DCI and a person of interest had gone missing I'd just assume they were all in Thailand.