One of the UK’s ‘most wanted’ fugitives, accused of child sex attacks, has finally been apprehended after 27 years on the run. Richard John Ramsey Burrows, now aged 80, was arrested at Heathrow Airport upon his return from Phuket, Thailand.
Burrows had evaded authorities since skipping a trial at Chester Crown Court in December 1997, where he faced charges of serious child sexual assault and indecent assault dating back to the late 1960s and early 1970s. The alleged incidents occurred in Cheshire and Worcestershire, including a children’s home in Congleton.
He had worked in Phuket, under the name of ‘Peter Smith’, as the head salesperson for the respected travel publication ‘Window on Phuket’, for many years.
Despite being a former Scoutmaster from Audlem, Cheshire, Burrows managed to elude capture until his recent return to the UK. Following his arrest, he appeared before Chester Crown Court and was remanded in custody until a hearing scheduled for June 21, with a provisional trial date set for January 13 next year.
During his recent years in Phuket he was suffering from ailing health and dwindling finances, so friends advised him to ‘head back home’.
Detective Inspector Eleanor Atkinson emphasised in the Daily Mail report, that “the relentless pursuit of Burrows over the past 27 years, expressing hope that his arrest brings closure to those affected by his alleged crimes”.
She thanked the public for their assistance throughout the investigation and warned other fugitives that they will be found and arrested, regardless of how long they evade authorities.
“Burrows’ arrest was the result of extensive collaboration between Cheshire Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Duncan Burrage, NCA International Liaison Officer in Thailand, highlighted the cooperation between agencies, stressing the commitment to bringing fugitives to justice, no matter where they hide.”
This statement from the UK police doesn’t appear to correlate with Peter Smith’s (his name in Thailand) friends who say he returned on his own accord.
ORIGINAL STORY: Daily Mail Online
