Northumberland Monster Jailed for Life Over Decades of Abuse
Anthony Burn, a 57-year-old from Northumberland, has been sentenced to life in prison for a shocking string of rapes and sexual assaults spanning more than 16 years.
Decades of Horror Across Two Counties
Burn’s reign of terror began in the early 1980s when he sexually abused one victim for two years. He then targeted two more victims over another two-year stretch. In the early 1990s, his abuse extended to two further victims, including one who endured attacks for a staggering 16 years.
It wasn’t until 2018 that one survivor bravely spoke out, prompting Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department to launch an investigation.
Police Pull Together to Nab Predator
In 2020, Cambridgeshire Police received a report naming Burn in a case where a victim was repeatedly raped. Another victim from Cambridgeshire described years of abuse similar to the Northumbria cases. Detective Constables Kev Foxcroft (Cambridgeshire) and Heginbottom (Northumbria) joined forces, uncovering a total of seven victims.
Court Shuts Down Paedophile with Tough Sentence
On May 18, at Newcastle Crown Court, Burn admitted to nine counts of rape involving five Northumbria victims. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of raping a child under 13, sexual assault of a child under 13, and an additional Cambridgeshire rape charge. All victims were under 16 when the abuse started.
Returning to court on July 27, Burn was jailed for life with a minimum 15-year term. He was slapped with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must register as a sex offender for life.
Burn’s evil spree is finally over — but the scars left behind will haunt his victims forever.
