Richard Burrows Jailed for 46 Years After 27-Year Manhunt

Richard Burrows, a former scout leader and school housemaster, has been sentenced to 46 years in prison after being found guilty of 97 sexual offences against young boys in Cheshire, West Midlands, and West Mercia between 1968 and 1995. After fleeing the UK in 1997 using a stolen identity, Burrows lived in Thailand for 27 years, evading capture until AI facial recognition technology helped police identify him under the alias 'Peter Smith.' Burrows was arrested at Heathrow Airport in March last year when he returned to the UK. His crimes included indecent assault, buggery, making indecent images of children, and possession of false identity documents. Many of his victims were targeted through scout groups and a children's home where he worked, and several have spoken out about the lasting trauma they suffered. Burrows' conviction closes a decades-long manhunt, and he is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison.