Justice after 27 years: ‘You have ruined countless lives’, judge tells Richard Burrows
Serial paedophile Richard Burrows has finally been brought to justice after more than 27 years on the run.
I was in the room at Chester Crown Court as Burrows, now in his eighties, was sentenced to 46 years in prison for 97 counts of child sexual abuse committed between the late 1960s and mid-1990s.
The trial involved 24 survivors, but I am left in no doubt this is just the tip of the iceberg after hearing how Burrows was able to wage his campaign of abuse over decades.
The majority of the charges relate to his time as a housemaster at Danesford School, a boys’ boarding school in Congleton, Cheshire, and his later involvement with scout groups in the West Midlands. He was first prosecuted in 1997 but fled the UK while on bail, obtaining a false passport and evading justice for nearly three decades.
His eventual arrest in Thailand last year was made possible by facial recognition technology – a last resort that proved critical when other avenues had failed. As police revealed, the technology identified him within seconds. For many survivors, his escape had felt like a final injustice.
The first day of the sentencing was dedicated to the moving and often harrowing accounts of Burrows’ victims. Each story was a testament not only to the suffering inflicted by this man but also to the strength of those who came forward. Many were already vulnerable when the abuse occurred. Burrows exploited their circumstances to commit abhorrent acts over many years.
We also learned that Burrows had been sacked from Danesford in 1971.
He later found opportunities to offend again while working with the Scouts. Despite a complaint made against him in the 1990s, which led to his dismissal, the Scouts failed to notify the police. That failure allowed Burrows to escape scrutiny and accountability.
I represent one of the victims in a claim for compensation against the Scout Association. It is clear to me the Scouts must account for its role in enabling Burrows to continue his pattern of abuse. Organisations working with children have a duty to respond robustly to safeguarding concerns. In this case, that duty was not fulfilled.
In sentencing, which took place over two days on 29th and 30th April, His Honour Judge Everett, said what many victims have long felt: that Burrows has shown no remorse and lied “to his back teeth” in every police interview.
The judge noted the devastating impact on victims, the serious abuse of trust, and the deliberate delay caused by his flight.
The judge told him: “You have ruined countless lives.
“I’ll sentence you according to the law, of course. But as a person, you deserve no sympathy whatsoever.”
I believe there will be other survivors, given Burrows worked in a position of trust with children through both his role with the Scouts and at the school over many decades. If you are one of them, or if you believe someone you know may have been affected, you are not alone.
At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we are specialists in representing survivors of abuse. You can contact me directly for free and confidential legal advice. We understand how difficult it is to speak out, especially when institutions have failed to protect you. But we are here to listen and to help you get the justice and recognition you deserve.
