British police have apprehended Richard Burrows, an 80-year-old man accused of historic sexual abuse of children, at Heathrow Airport. Burrows, who had been evading authorities for 27 years, was detained upon his return to the UK from Thailand.
The arrest follows Burrows’ failure to attend Chester Crown Court in December 1997 to face trial for two counts of buggery and 11 counts of indecent assault. The alleged offenses occurred between 1969 and 1971 at a children’s home in Congleton, Cheshire, and in the West Midlands.
Detective Eleanor Atkinson of Cheshire Police expressed gratitude for the public’s assistance in locating Burrows, emphasizing that his apprehension marks a significant milestone in the case and brings closure to those affected. She reiterated the message that wanted suspects cannot evade justice indefinitely, and urged others with outstanding warrants to surrender themselves.
Efforts to locate Burrows spanned nearly three decades, including a Crimewatch appeal in 1998. Duncan Burrage of the National Crime Agency (NCA) emphasized the collaborative effort between international agencies and Cheshire Police, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations against Burrows.
Burrows has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear at Chester Crown Court to face the charges against him.