ANDREW BURROWS FROM WESHAM JAILED FOR HOUSING MISSING CHILDREN NEAR PRESTON

In October 2020, a disturbing incident unfolded in Wesham involving Andrew Burrows, a known sex offender, who was found to be housing two missing children in his flat. The case drew significant attention from local authorities and the court system due to the serious nature of the offenses and the breach of legal restrictions.

According to reports presented at Preston Crown Court, the two children, whose identities are protected for legal reasons, were discovered together in Burrows' residence on Station Road, Wesham, near Preston. Both children were found in a state that raised alarm: they were unclothed and appeared to be under the influence of drugs. Both admitted to smoking cannabis, which added to the concerns about their wellbeing and safety.

The children had been reported missing from their respective homes, prompting police investigations into their whereabouts. Authorities had received information suggesting that they might be at Burrows' flat, which heightened the urgency of the case. The police responded to these concerns on September 30, when officers attended the property. Burrows' girlfriend allowed the officers entry into the flat, leading them directly to the bedroom where the two children were found.

During the police interview, Burrows explained that the children had lied about their ages. He also dismissed the importance of adhering to the conditions of his previous sexual harm prevention order, which he had breached multiple times. Burrows, who was 21 years old at the time, is subject to this order due to past offenses in Cheshire. The order requires him to inform the parents of any under-16s he is with about his convictions and to obtain their consent before being in their company.

His girlfriend told officers that the boy had been staying at the flat for two days, and the girl had been there overnight. Neither set of parents was aware of their children’s location, nor had they given permission for them to be there. Burrows admitted that the children had entered the flat without his knowledge initially, but he claimed he became aware of their presence later. He also stated that he did not know they were missing or that they lacked permission to be there.

Burrows appeared via video link at Preston Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order. During the proceedings, he was visibly emotional, sobbing as the defense lawyer, Sharon Watson, described his background. Watson highlighted Burrows’ chaotic lifestyle, traumatic childhood, and mental health issues, attempting to provide context for his actions.

She also emphasized that the flat was a shared tenancy with his partner, asserting that she had equal rights to the property. She argued that the children’s presence was beyond Burrows’ control, as they entered the flat without his knowledge and he was unaware of their status as missing children or that they lacked permission to be there.

However, Judge Beverly Lunt was clear in her judgment. She stated that Burrows had to face the consequences of his actions and that a prison sentence was inevitable. She concluded, “I’m afraid he has to leave and that’s it. He knows that now. It’s got to be a prison sentence, I can’t do anything else.” The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of the breach and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children from individuals with a history of sexual offenses.