STEPHEN BURNELL FLEEING YORK TO GREECE: PAEDOPHILE'S ESCAPE AND RETURN REVEALED

In September 2015, the small town of Nantlle in Gwynedd, Wales, was the backdrop for a case involving a notorious sex offender. However, the focus of recent proceedings has been on Stephen Burnell, a man with a troubling criminal history linked to York, who has now been brought back into the legal spotlight.

Back in October 2009, Burnell, aged 56, was sentenced in York after a lengthy period of evasion. The case drew significant attention because Burnell had managed to evade law enforcement authorities for an extended period, working discreetly in a tavern on the Greek island of Crete. Despite being listed among the UK’s five most wanted sex offenders, he successfully avoided arrest for 31 months, during which time he was employed in a hospitality role far from the UK.

Burnell’s criminal record dates back to 2007, when he was convicted in his absence and sentenced to six years in prison for a series of sexual offenses committed against a nine-year-old girl. The charges included attempted rape, indecent assault, and the taking of indecent photographs of a child. These offenses were committed while he was residing in the South Bank area of York, a neighborhood known for its vibrant community but now overshadowed by the gravity of his crimes.

His failure to appear at his trial in February 2007 led to a warrant for his arrest. Instead of facing justice, Burnell chose to flee the country, traveling first from Liverpool to Amsterdam, and then onward to Crete. It was in Greece that he found employment, working in a tavern, seemingly trying to escape the reach of UK authorities.

His escape was eventually thwarted when he was arrested in Crete following a dispute, which led to his extradition back to England. The arrest marked the end of his 31-month flight from justice and paved the way for his sentencing in York Crown Court.

During the court proceedings, Burnell appeared in the dock dressed casually in a grey sweater. His appearance was notably tanned, with shoulder-length blonde hair and a beard. When asked to plead, he hesitated before admitting guilt to the charge of failing to surrender to custody on the day his trial was scheduled to commence.

His defense lawyer, Helen Hendry, explained that Burnell’s decision to abscond was driven by the immense stress and pressure he felt leading up to his trial. She detailed how he left the UK, traveling from Liverpool to Amsterdam and then to Crete, where he had been working in a tavern. The court was told that Burnell’s flight was motivated by fear of the consequences he believed awaited him.

In addition to the original sentence, Burnell was sentenced to an extra 11 months in prison for his failure to surrender. Judge Stephen Ashurst, the Recorder of York, described the case as “a bad case of its type,” emphasizing the seriousness of his actions.

Addressing Burnell directly, the judge stated, “You failed to attend because you feared the consequences and you did so in the knowledge that (the victim) was telling the truth and her allegations would be proved in court. That was your decision.” The judge further condemned Burnell’s choice to ignore the legal process, noting that the defendant had been given every opportunity to face his charges but chose to evade justice.

Before being taken into custody, Burnell requested to have his say, but Judge Ashurst declined his request, reaffirming the gravity of the case and the importance of accountability for his actions.