Overview

• Richard Burrows, a former housemaster and scout leader, systematically abused 26 boys over nearly three decades across Cheshire, the West Midlands, and West Mercia.
• He fled the UK in 1997 using a stolen identity and lived in Thailand for 27 years, describing his time there as 'paradise.'
• Facial recognition software identified Burrows in 2023, leading to his arrest at Heathrow Airport upon his return to the UK.
• Burrows was convicted of 97 offenses, including indecent assault, indecency with a child, and charges equivalent to rape, and will be sentenced on April 7, 2025.
• Victims and law enforcement expressed relief at his conviction, though some victims passed away before seeing justice served.