logo
Searching billions of photos led police to fugitive paedophile Richard Burrows after decades

Searching billions of photos led police to fugitive paedophile Richard Burrows after decades

ITV News30-04-2025

A paedophile who stayed on-the-run in a place he called "paradise" for almost 30 years was caught after a search of billions of online photos.
Richard Burrows fled the UK, in 1997, to escape justice for sexually abusing boys during his time as a scout leader and school housemaster.
He failed to appear at a court in Chester while on bail, but the authorities did not know he had managed to leave the country and no appeal helped to trace him.
In 2023, advances in facial recognition software offered detectives the chance to scour the internet for Burrows.
Out of the billions of images the system trawled, there were matches to someone calling himself 'Peter Smith' who was living in Thailand.
'Smith' worked at an advertising company and had appeared in the local Thai media.
Detective Inspector Eli Atikinson told ITV News about what she called the "breakthrough moment."
She said: "We put in the custody photograph from 1997.
"The software provided a couple of matches to images from news articles from Phuket which showed his retirement do from the sailing club that he was a member of."
The identity Burrows was living under had been stolen from a terminally-ill acquaintance of his.
Back in 1997, he had used Peter Smith's name to fraudulently obtain a genuine passport and then travel to Thailand undetected.
After confirming that 'Smith' was Burrows, Cheshire Police contacted the National Crime Agency and the Crown Prosecution Service to begin extradition proceedings.
But officers soon became aware of Burrows' intention to return to the UK under his stolen alias after he ran out of money.
Last March, the now 81-year-old was arrested at Heathrow Airport.
For Burrows' victims, seeing him in a courtroom has taken a painfully long time with some passing away before it could happen.
James Harvey is among those still here to see it. He was just 12-years-old when he was indecently assaulted by Burrows.
Mr Harvey waived his right to anonymity to speak about what happened to him.
He told ITV News: "I suddenly was aware that this man was trying to touch me in a way that nobody had ever tried to touch me before.
"I knew in that instant that this was not normal. This was terribly embarrassing and uncomfortable, and I didn't like it.
"[Burrows] is a serial, pitiless, cruel, manipulative, cynical human being who deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison."
Burrows' offending in Cheshire took place between 1969 and 1971 while he was employed as a housemaster looking after vulnerable children at Danesford Children's Home in Congleton.
His victims in the Midlands were abused between 1968 and 1995, the majority through local Scout groups where Burrows worked as a leader. In each case, he befriended the boys using his position of trust.
One victim told Chester Crown Court that Burrows had "stripped away my humanity" in an eight-hour ordeal during his camping trip with the Scouts.
The Honorary Recorder of Chester, Judge Steven Everett, replied: "You have done nothing to be ashamed of."
Another victim said at the time he hid the abuse from his parents, could not tell any of his friends or trust a grown-up any more.
He said: "I had no-one to turn to and just internalised it all. It totally affected my future relationships and behaviour.
"Even now I keep going through my head: 'Why did you assault me?' I looked up to you.''
Judge Everett responded: "I want to be crystal clear. There is only one person at fault here and he is sitting opposite me in the dock."
Those who finally tracked down Burrows hope this case shows that suspects will always be found, even in far-flung corners of the globe.
Det Insp Atkinson said: "In emails that we have found since his arrest, Burrows described how he has spent the past three decades 'living in paradise', while his victims have all been left to suffer as they struggled to try and rebuild their lives.
"Thankfully, following our determination, he has finally been held accountable for his actions and is now behind bars where he belongs.
"I also hope that this case acts as a warning to any other wanted suspects - demonstrating that no matter how long you hide, we will find you and you will be held accountable."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What is Ben's Law? The proposed cruising ban named after 19-year-old who died from a street racer
What is Ben's Law? The proposed cruising ban named after 19-year-old who died from a street racer

ITV News

time21 hours ago

  • ITV News

What is Ben's Law? The proposed cruising ban named after 19-year-old who died from a street racer

The father of Ben Corfield, who was killed by a street racer, says he wants to honour his son's memory - as Lee Comley reports. Two weeks on from an ITV News investigation into street racing across the country, there are now calls for an outright national ban on street racing and car cruising. Councillor Damian Corfield, whose son Ben was killed in Oldbury by a street racer, is calling for 'Ben's Law'- a change in the current law that would make it illegal to organise, promote or attend unofficial road racing events. In November 2022, Damian's son Ben was part of a group of teenagers who were hit by a speeding Nissan Skyline as it sped off a dual carriageway, onto a pavement and into a brick wall. Two of the group were left with life-changing injuries, and Ben Corfield, 19, along with Liberty Charris, 16, were both killed. Ben was interested in driving, but he also held a keen interest in politics- wishing to follow in his father's footsteps, who is a councillor in Dudley. What is Ben's law? Ben's law is a campaign to make it criminal to organise, promote or attend unofficial road racing events. Currently street racing is illegal under the Road Traffic Act and can carry imprisonment, fines and a driving qualification. Street racing can fall under dangerous driving or careless and inconsiderate driving. Dangerous driving can amount to imprisonment, fines and a driving disqualification. Whereas, inconsiderate driving can get you points on your licence, a ban or a disqualification. Street racing: The families who lost loved ones in deadly crash The issue is that whilst it is illegal to street race it is often hard to prove and the antisocial behaviour associated with street racing is also equally difficult to clamp down on. This has meant that councils have been left to apply for high court injunctions that ban spectators. But these injunctions only exist in certain parts of the country, including the West Midlands, and are often temporary. Ben's law would change this - making it illegal to spectate street racing anywhere in the country. The high court injunction that is in place in the black country and Birmingham is rare. The injunction there bans people from being involved at all in street racing, including excessive noise, promoting street racing and participating in any way in street racing.

Welsh tourist vanishes on holiday and found on life support in hospital
Welsh tourist vanishes on holiday and found on life support in hospital

Wales Online

timea day ago

  • Wales Online

Welsh tourist vanishes on holiday and found on life support in hospital

Welsh tourist vanishes on holiday and found on life support in hospital It's thought 29-year-old Ashton Jones, from Cwmbran, was violently attacked after he became separated from his friends Ashton Jones is gravely ill in a Thai hospital (Image: Wales News Service ) A British tourist who mysteriously vanished on a night out in Thailand was found on life support in hospital – and his family fear he won't survive unless he is brought back home. Ashton Jones, 29, went on a last-minute trip to Bangkok but was separated from his friends on a night out. ‌ His family have no idea what happened before he was found in a hospital having emergency brain surgery – and is now fighting for his life nearly 6,000 miles away from home. ‌ And to make it worse Ashton didn't take out holiday insurance before jetting off 6,000 miles to Bangkok. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here. His worried grandmother Beverley Walker, of Cwmbran is desperately trying to raise money to pay for his medical care and bring him back home to Wales. She said Ashton had travelled to Thailand with a lifelong friend on May 30 and on arrival met up with another friend. Article continues below Ashton Jones with his grandmother Beverley Walker (Image: Wales News Service ) But five days into his trip the family received the worst news that he had gone missing after a night out partying. His friends spent hours searching for Ashton after he went missing from the nightclub they were in. ‌ He was found in hospital in Thailand and medics believe Ashton, who has epilepsy, was violently attacked. Beverley said: 'I am deeply concerned that without immediate financial or diplomatic assistance my grandson may not survive. 'The emotional toll on our family is immense. We are heartbroken and fearful, watching from afar while Ashton suffers without the care he urgently requires.' ‌ Beverley said on Monday, nearly a week after Ashton went into hospital on June 3, workers at Chonburi Hospital tried to wake him up. She added: 'It was a success but he still has a long way to go. He's bedbound and suffering with fits, cannot talk, eat, or drink and isn't aware. 'We all as a family are worried sick with fear for Ashton and how we can bring him home.' ‌ Ashton's trip was only booked at the last minute and he didn't have any travel insurance (Image: Wales News Service ) But Ashton's treatment and funding to bring him to the UK will cost the family thousands, which is way more than they can afford to pay. As he went out to Thailand at short notice Beverley said he 'did the unthinkable' and travelled without taking out any insurance. ‌ The family have set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise £50,000 to help cover medical expenses and to bring him home. So far more than £3,000 has been raised by more than 100 donors since the fundraiser was launched. Beverley said: 'The hospital in Thailand is asking for the cost of his treatment on going that is far beyond what our family can afford. ‌ 'In the meantime Ashton's condition continues to deteriorate and it feels as though we are being left helpless as time runs out. 'We have already put together life savings for medical bills, flights, travel, accommodation to be with him but would never be able to afford to get him home to better health care and his family. 'We all as a family are worried sick with fear for Ashton and how we can bring him home. ‌ 'So please any donations made towards getting Ashton home is appreciated beyond words can describe. 'From the bottom of our hearts thank you.' You can donate to the fundraiser here. Article continues below A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting a British man who has been hospitalised in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.' Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.

British couple are charged with 'smuggling £1million of cannabis from Thailand' after being stopped at Heathrow
British couple are charged with 'smuggling £1million of cannabis from Thailand' after being stopped at Heathrow

Daily Mail​

timea day ago

  • Daily Mail​

British couple are charged with 'smuggling £1million of cannabis from Thailand' after being stopped at Heathrow

A British couple have been charged with smuggling £1million of cannabis into the UK from Thailand. Sian Warren, 34, and Daniel McDonald, 36, were arrested by National Crime Agency officers at Heathrow last month after allegedly being found with more than 51kg of the Class B drug in their suitcases. The pair were charged with importing class B drugs and appeared at Uxbridge magistrates' court on May 29. They have since been bailed and are due to attend a plea hearing at Isleworth crown court on June 26. Sian reportedly works as an administrator for a house building business where Daniel's father also works. The couple, who are both from Salford, Manchester, had flown out for a dream holiday to Bangkok last month, according to the Sun. Sian's father Tony has claimed she would not have knowingly smuggled drugs into the country. He told the Sun: 'Sian's not brought anything back, definitely not. She had her own suitcase with clothes in it.' The couple are the latest Brits to be caught allegedly trying to smuggle drugs into another country. Last month a British former flight attendant was accused of smuggling £1.2 million of super-strength cannabis into Sri Lanka. Charlotte May Lee, 21, from Coulsdon, south London, was arrested in Colombo after police discovered 46 kg of 'Kush' - a synthetic strain of cannabis - in her suitcase. She had just arrived in the Sri Lankan capital on a flight from Bangkok in Thailand. She was arrested at Bandaranaike Airport and taken into custody on Monday, May 11. She is facing up to 25 years locked in a hellhole Sri Lankan jail - but she has insisted she has been set up MailOnline spoke to her from her cell where she admitted that she had not been eating because the food was too spicy. Elsewhere, Bella May Culley, 18, is now facing life in prison in the former Soviet country after being accused of illegally buying, possessing and importing large quantities of narcotics. The youngster from Billingham, Country Durham, was believed to have gone missing in Thailand before she was detained 3,700 miles away at Tbilisi International Airport. Concerns had been raised that the two cases were related as both young women left Bangkok airport on the same day and were arrested in Sri Lanka and Georgia respectively within hours of each other.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store