Fugitive scoutmaster arrested after 27 years on run

A former scoutmaster who evaded capture for 27 years has been arrested, thanks to artificial intelligence. Richard Burrows, now 80, abused 24 young boys in the UK before disappearing. He stole the identity of an innocent man to live in Thailand, where he worked as a media salesman. Cheshire Police found Burrows after using a facial recognition program called Pimeyes. This program analyzed millions of online photos. Officers discovered a match with Burrows, who had been living in Phuket. He was extradited back to the UK and admitted to his true identity. Burrows has already pleaded guilty to 43 charges, including making and possessing indecent images of children. He has now been found guilty of an additional 54 offences, such as indecent assault and buggery. Most of his crimes occurred between 1968 and 1995 while he was a scout leader and during his time at a children's home. Many of Burrows' victims were afraid to come forward at the time. It wasn't until the 1990s that some gained the confidence to speak out. Burrows was originally arrested in 1997 but vanished before his court hearing. After a long period of evading justice, Burrows will be sentenced next month at Chester Crown Court. His case highlights the long-lasting impact of his actions on the victims and the importance of using technology in law enforcement.