First Victim of Serial Paedophile Richard Burrows Regrets Not Reporting Assault at the Time
A man who was the first known victim of serial paedophile Richard Burrows has spoken to Sky News about the regret he carries for not reporting his assault at the time, allowing Burrows to go on and abuse other young boys.
Burrows, 81, is set to learn his sentence at Chester Crown Court today after being convicted last month of dozens of sexual offences against young boys. The judge told him it is "inevitable" he might never be released. According to Sky News, Burrows had spent 27 years on the run, living in what he called "paradise" in Thailand, after stealing the identity of a friend and fleeing the UK when he was due in court in 1997.
The victim, who cannot be identified as he is the victim of a sexual offence, told Sky News: "It’s been an awfully long time and after 57 years I’ve got to see the results at the end of it. It does actually feel like a weight’s been lifted. You hear that expression all through life, but it’s the first time I’ve ever really felt it." He described Burrows as a "devious, nasty creature".
The man, who was 14 at the time of the assault in the late 1960s and is now 71, said he wished he had reported the incident at the time, as he believes it could have prevented others from falling victim to Burrows’s abuse. "I wish I’d said something when it happened because I feel that, in retrospect, if I would have said something, then maybe it would have stopped other people from falling into the same trap that I did," he said. "But at that time, at that age, I thought I probably wouldn’t have been believed, and I felt too ashamed and embarrassed and even guilty to even mention it to anybody else. So, I didn’t, and I regret not doing that."
Sky News reported that Burrows had obtained positions of authority and systematically abused boys from the 1960s to the mid-1990s. He had worked as a housemaster at a school for troubled boys and befriended other youngsters through amateur radio clubs. The trial heard that Burrows had been able to evade capture for so long due to his ability to assume new identities and flee the country.
The victim’s story is a stark reminder of the devastating impact that childhood abuse can have on individuals and their families. As Sky News notes, Burrows’s crimes have caused "untold distress and trauma to the victims and their families". The victim’s bravery in coming forward to share his story is a testament to the efforts of those working to bring perpetrators of abuse to justice.
Burrows was initially charged in May 1997 but failed to attend a hearing later that year. He remained on the wanted list until police using facial recognition software matched him to a man using the name Peter Smith. He had stolen the identity of a terminally ill friend to obtain a passport. After his conviction in March, judge Steven Everett told Burrows he had caused significant harm to his victims.
As Burrows is set to receive his sentence, the thoughts of many will be with the victims and their families who have had to endure the trauma and pain caused by his actions. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of listening to and believing victims of abuse, and of the tireless efforts of law enforcement and support services to bring perpetrators to justice.
Burrows’s case is a shocking example of the lengths to which some perpetrators will go to evade capture and continue their abuse. According to Sky News, he had been living in Thailand, where he had assumed a new identity and was able to live undetected for many years. His arrest and conviction are a testament to the power of perseverance and determination in the pursuit of justice.
The impact of Burrows’s crimes will be felt for many years to come, and it is essential that we continue to support those affected by abuse and work towards a society where such crimes are prevented and perpetrators are brought to justice. As the first victim of Burrows’s abuse so bravely stated, "I really begrudge him those 27 years. It’s 27 years and he’s just left a trail of wreckage behind him while he’s enjoying himself. It’s a shame he’s not got another 27 years to look forward to in jail."
