A paedophile who spent almost three decades on the run left his victims with PTSD having destroyed their childhoods, a court heard.

Richard Burrows is being sentenced for 97 child sex abuse charges – after he fled to Thailand and changed his identity, before returning to the UK in 2024 only after running out of money.

At the first day of the 80-year-old's sentencing at Chester Crown Court, some victims read out impact statements, while others were read out for them by the prosecution. Two of his victims said they had previously tried to commit suicide.

One victim said his childhood was "completely and permanently destroyed" by Burrows, having been drugged and raped in a tent, over a 12-hour period.

"What was left of me as a child was taken away by Burrows," he said in the witness box.

The man said he was 10 or 11 when he was abused by Burrows, who took part in scout camps and activities in Sutton Coldfield and Ross-on-Wye.

He told the court that on one occasion there had been a flood and he had had to stay in Burrows' tent, where the defendant raped him.

"I was drugged by him for 12 hours over the course of the night and raped," he said.

'Abuse strips away humanity'

He later found a letter to his parents that he wrote, begging to come home from the scout camp.

"There's never been a day that I haven't thought about him. I don't want him there in my thoughts," he said.

"Richard Burrows altered my life demonstrably and immeasurably. He changed my life irreversibly. His abuse strips away humanity."

He told the court he had twice tried to commit suicide and had been diagnosed with complex PTSD.

"I would feel death was an easy way out," he said.

"My childhood was taken away from me by Richard Burrows and resigned me to a life of perpetual trauma, shame and despair."

Responding to his statement, Judge Steven Everett said: "Victims say they feel ashamed – you've done nothing to be ashamed of."

James Harvey, who has waived his legal right to anonymity, told the court he was abused by Burrows in a caravan at night.

The attacks took place at an airshow at Baginton Aerodrome – later known as Coventry Airport – after Mr Harvey had met Burrows while he was a sea scout in Walsall.

Mr Harvey sat in the witness box and looked directly at Burrows throughout.

"You had so many qualities that could have been put to good, but you used every single one for evil purposes," Mr Harvey said in court, addressing Burrows.

"You have been proven to be a paedophile – you have to accept that today."

At that point, looking back at him, Burrows nodded.

Another victim's statement was read to the court by the prosecution, on behalf of a man who was repeatedly raped by Burrows at Danesford Approved School when he was 12, between 1969 and 1971.

At one point, he contracted a sexually transmitted infection from Burrows.

"I've tried to commit suicide twice, it's been a constant theme in my life," he said.

"I haven't been able to sleep. A couple of days ago I had a stroke from the stress of it."

In his statement, he said he still remembered the abuse vividly.

"My health seems to be getting worse by the day," he said.

"I'm alcohol-dependent and I put this down to what happened. I wouldn't be like this if it wasn't for him."

He added he had been married five times and that Burrows' abuse made it difficult for him to form relationships.

'Overwhelming feeling of shame'

Another victim, who read out his own statement, spoke of being sexually assaulted by Burrows at his home in Sutton Coldfield, where he had gone to see his radio equipment when he was aged 13 or 14, in 1967/68.

"I felt an overwhelming feeling of shame and embarrassment," he said.

"The feeling stayed with me for years."

He was able to subdue the effects and "get on with life", but when he saw Burrows on the BBC's Crimewatch "it brought everything back".

He reported what Burrows did to him after seeing an appeal on the programme, which came after Burrows had fled the country.

"I have feelings of remorse for not reporting the incident sooner, as I feel that earlier intervention could have saved God know's how many other victims over the years, so to them, I apologise," he said.

At this point Judge Everett turned to him and said: "You don't have to apologise, its not your fault.

"You did what many young boys did, and many of the other young boys who were sexually abused, which was not tell anybody."

'Horrific sexual abuse'

Mark Connor KC, prosecuting, said Burrows had been convicted of the "horrific sexual abuse of 24 young boys, some of whom were particularly vulnerable", while the defendant was in a "position of power and trust."

His offending "spanned from the mid 60s to the mid 90s, before he was arrested almost 28 years ago.

"The defendant escaped justice and failed to attend plea and directions hearing in December 1997," Mr Connor said.

"He had fled to Thailand where he spent many years enjoying his life. He was able to indulge his passion for sailing – having created a false ID, only returning last April after he'd run out of money.

"Meanwhile. his victims continued to suffer four sadly died never seeing Richard Burrows face justice.

"The defendant's successful evasion from justice for such a long time has caused unnecessary harm to the victims, deepening the psychological harm he's responsible for."