Man Apprehended After More Than 27 Years On The Run Faces Further Child Sex Abuse Charges

An 80-year-old ex-scoutmaster arrested after more than 27 years on the run is set to face further child sex abuse charges.

Richard Burrows, who is accused of the historic sexual abuse of children, was arrested at Heathrow Airport in March, after returning to the UK from Thailand.

He had been wanted since December 1997 when he failed to attend Chester Crown Court to face trial for two counts of buggery and 11 counts of indecent assault.

The charges relate to allegations of abuse reported to have taken place at a children’s home in Congleton, Cheshire, between 1969 and 1971 and in the West Midlands between 1971 and 1981.

Cheshire Police revealed today that the Crown Prosecution Service had now authorised additional charges against him.

They were 20 counts of indecent assault, one count of buggery, three counts of making indecent images of children, and four counts of possession of a false identity document with intent.

The additional charges relate to 11 victims and the offences occurred between 1966 and 1996 across Cheshire, the West Midlands and West Mercia areas.

Burrows is next scheduled to appear at Chester Crown Court on August 2.

He had been due to be prosecuted at Chester Crown Court on child sex charges when he skipped bail in December 1997.

A warrant was issued for his arrest but, despite various appeals, including on the BBC’s Crimewatch, police did not locate him until March this year.

Detectives from Cheshire police working with the National Crime Agency, dubbed Britain’s FBI, finally arrested Burrows as he ‘stepped off a flight’ from Thailand at London’s Heathrow Airport.

He appeared at Chester Crown Court on April 2.

Asked by the clerk of the court whether it was correct that he had ‘failed to surrender to custody and failed to surrender pursuant to a warrant for his arrest,’ Burrows, who was dressed in a grey tracksuit, replied: ‘Yes.’

Judge Steven Everett told the court that Burrows was facing historical allegations of serious sexual assault and indecent assault relating to 11 young complainants at a Cheshire children’s home, and while he was acting as a scoutmaster, when he jumped bail in December 1997.

The judge remanded Burrows in custody and ordered that he appear before the court again on June 21 to enter a plea.

He also set the date for his trial for January 13.