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

Gang steal £250,000 worth of luxury handbags after tunneling into designer boutique through a wall
Gang steal £250,000 worth of luxury handbags after tunneling into designer boutique through a wall

Daily Mail​

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Gang steal £250,000 worth of luxury handbags after tunneling into designer boutique through a wall

Thieves climbed through a chimney and dug a hole in the wall to steal £250,000 worth of luxury handbags from a designer boutique. The owner of Dress Cheshire has spoken of her devastation after the gang of three men broke into her store at New Road in Prestbury, Cheshire on Sunday night. They are thought to have entered a disused building adjacent to the shop an hour before the burglary and created a hole in the wall. Police say the trio then gained access to the store through the chimney area. Officers are currently trying to track down the culprits and the stolen bags. Speaking on social media, Dress Cheshire manager Christine Colbert said a gang had gained entry by 'boring a 1m x 0.5m wide hole through the wall which took over an hour to drill'. Fighting back tears, Ms Colbert added: 'I'm absolutely devastated. They've stolen our beautiful handbags to the value of a quarter of a million pounds. 'This is a very serious crime for Cheshire Police. There were three men. This was very well planned and organised.' The luxury boutique owner also praised Cheshire Police for arriving 'within minutes'. Detective Constable Clare Slattery, of Macclesfield CID (criminal investigation department), said: 'Our enquiries are ongoing, and we would urge anyone who witnessed this incident or saw anything suspicious to get in touch with us. 'The same goes for anyone with dashcam footage or CCTV which might aid our investigation. 'We also want to hear from anyone who thinks they may have information regarding the whereabouts of the items that were stolen.' Customers and local householders have since offered their condolences to Ms Colbert in the aftermath of the 'absolutely awful' burglary. Beverley Watson said: 'Wow, can't believe they went to such lengths to gain entry and steal your handbags 'Thank goodness they didn't come though the door in business hours, and that you and your staff are safe. 'I know this is little comfort considering the hard work Dress Cheshire requires on your part. Take care.' Lisa O'Nions added: 'There are no words Christine Colbert we are so so sorry that this has happened to you and your beautiful shop again! 'As others have commented we are just glad that you and the staff are safe and ok. Sending all our love to you all at Dress Cheshire.' And Sally Williams said: 'So so sorry to hear this Christine absolutely awful, sending love and for all those concerned. Can only imagine how shook up you are.' News of the theft comes as MailOnline analysis earlier this year revealed streets lined with designer shops and multi-million pound homes prove to be the biggest burglary hotspots in England and Wales. The sector built around Regent Street in London, one of the capital's most famed areas because of its breadth of shops and restaurants, recorded 282 break-ins last year. Home to just 2,280 residents, in-depth analysis suggested that particular block, which includes Oxford Street, New Bond Street, Carnaby Street and Saville Row, saw 123 burglaries for every 1,000 people.

Brit couple found with £1m of cannabis in luggage in latest 'drug mule' fears
Brit couple found with £1m of cannabis in luggage in latest 'drug mule' fears

Daily Mirror

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Brit couple found with £1m of cannabis in luggage in latest 'drug mule' fears

Sian Warren, 34, and Daniel McDonald, 36, from Salford, have been accused of trying to smuggle cannabis valued at £1million through Heathrow Airport on their way back from Thailand A couple have been charged with trying to smuggle cannabis valued at £1million into the UK after being stopped at Heathrow Airport. Sian Warren, 34, and Daniel McDonald, 36, were on their way back from Thailand when officers from the National Crime Agency reportedly found more than 51kg of cannabis in their luggage. It is understood that the drug was in four cases that the pair were carrying. They appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court where they have been charged with importing Class B drugs and have been bailed under curfew ahead of a plea hearing on June 26 at Isleworth Crown Court. Warren and McDonald, from Salford, went to Bangkok on holiday last month and Warren's dad Tony told The Sun that there must have been a mistake. He said: 'Sian's not brought anything back, definitely not. She had her own suitcase with clothes in it.' It is the latest of several incidents involving British holidaymakers who have been accused of smuggling drugs from Thailand as an expert warned that criminal gangs are 'grooming' naive tourists. In the last few weeks, three British women have hit the headlines after they were accused of attempting to smuggle drugs. Bella May Cullen, 18, was arrested after flying into Georgia from Thailand with around 14kg of cannabis and 2kg of hashish in her luggage. A day later former TUI stewardess Charlotte May Lee was allegedly caught with 46kg of Kush – a high-grade strain of cannabis – in her luggage valued at £1.2million after arriving in Sri Lanka, again from Thailand. And then it emerged another Brit, Isabella Daggett, 21, from Leeds, has been held in a hellhole Dubai prison since March, when she was arrested on suspected drugs offences. Nathan Paul Southern, the Operations Director at The EyeWitness Project, which specialises in the investigation of organised crime, conflict and corruption, says southeast Asia has now become the world 's leading supplier of both narcotics like heroin and synthetic drugs like ecstasy and crystal meth. The 'Golden Triangle' - a large mountainous region on the borders with Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, recently overtook Afghanistan as the world's largest producer of opium, used to make heroin. And he says gangs are 'flocking' to the region from around the world, where they appear to be using grooming techniques used in other types of crimes to ensnare impressionable young Westerners. Mr Southern told the Mirror: 'The idea of charming strangers grooming backpackers isn't new, it's just the same old tactics in a region with a booming drug trade. The same grooming techniques we've seen in romance scams and human trafficking could be getting adapted for drug smuggling.

Brit couple charged on suspicion of importing £1m of cannabis from Thailand after returning from holiday in Bangkok
Brit couple charged on suspicion of importing £1m of cannabis from Thailand after returning from holiday in Bangkok

Scottish Sun

time13 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Brit couple charged on suspicion of importing £1m of cannabis from Thailand after returning from holiday in Bangkok

Sian's dad has insisted that she is innocent of the charges - and only had clothes in her suitcase £1M POT RAP Brit couple charged on suspicion of importing £1m of cannabis from Thailand after returning from holiday in Bangkok A COUPLE have been charged with smuggling £1million of cannabis from Thailand. Sian Warren, 34, and Daniel McDonald, 36, were stopped when they returned to Heathrow. Advertisement 3 Sian Warren and Daniel McDonald's dream trip to Bangkok ended with the pair being detained after £1m of cannabis was found in their suitcases 3 Daniel, pictured, and Sian were charged with importing Class B drugs 3 Sian's dad has insisted that she is innocent of the charges - and only had clothes in her suitcase National Crime Agency officers found four cases packed with more than 51kg of cannabis. The pair were charged with importing Class B drugs and appeared the following day at Uxbridge magistrates' court. They have been bailed under curfew ahead of a plea hearing on June 26 at Isleworth crown court. The couple left Salford for a dream holiday to Bangkok last month. Advertisement Sian works as an administrator for Daniel's dad's building business. Her dad, Tony, said: '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 arrested on suspicion of trying to import cannabis from Thailand into either Europe or the UK. Advertisement Cameron Bradford, 21, from Knebworth, Herts, was detained at Munich Airport on April 21 as she tried to collect her luggage after cops discovered it was packed with drugs after arriving from Thailand. And Brit Bella May Culley, 18, sparked a massive international search operation in early May after she was reported missing while holidaying in Thailand. Brit tourist, 18, reported missing for days in Thailand is arrested on 'drug offences' in Georgia 4,000 miles away However, it was later revealed that the teen, from Billingham, County Durham, had been arrested 4,000 miles away on drug offences in Georgia. She was allegedly carrying 30 pounds (14kg) of cannabis into the ex-Soviet nation.

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