An 80-year-old man accused of child sex offenses dating back to the late 1960s and early 1970s has reportedly been arrested upon his return to the UK from Thailand, where he had reportedly been living for some time. According to reports, Richard Burrows had failed to attend the initial stages of his trial at Chester Crown Court in 1997, prompting authorities to launch extensive appeals for information to locate him. Appeals were reportedly made even on the BBC’s Crimewatch program in 1998.
The accused reportedly faces 13 counts, including 11 of indecent assault and two of a serious sexual offense, relating to alleged child abuse in the West Midlands and at a children’s home in Cheshire. Following his arrest, he has been remanded in custody, with a further hearing scheduled for 21 June ahead of a trial in January 2025. Authorities have reportedly hailed his arrest as a significant step forward in the case.
The National Crime Agency (NCA), working in collaboration with local police, is believed to have identified Burrows’ whereabouts in Thailand and flagged his impending return to the UK. This reportedly enabled the authorities to arrest him upon his arrival at Heathrow airport. Commenting on the arrest, Detective Inspector Eleanor Atkinson said she hoped it would serve as a warning to other wanted suspects that they would be tracked down and held accountable irrespective of how long they had evaded justice.
Although the local police have reportedly not disclosed any further details regarding the case, they have confirmed that they worked alongside the NCA to secure the arrest, indicating that international cooperation played a significant role in tracking down and apprehending the accused. The accused has been wanted for nearly three decades, and his arrest has provided the authorities an opportunity to bring the case to a close and provide closure to the victims and their families
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