A JUDGE has warned a child rapist that he is facing a lengthy jail sentence after a jury convicted him of multiple sex offences.

Andrew Philip Burrows, 57, who had denied 31 sex offences, was convicted of 23 of those allegations after trial at Carlisle Crown Court.

The offences the jury declared him guilty of included a child rape, and several other child sex offences, including engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, with some of the offences taking place in Kendal.

In total, the jury convicted Burrows of nine rapes. He was cleared of eight allegations on the direction of the judge.

The defendant’s barrister, Judith McCullough, said that he was aware there could be only one form of sentence for the offending he was now convicted of: “A very lengthy term in prison.”

She added that the defendant, of Chapel Close, West Woodburn, had suffered depression throughout his life. She asked that the judge order a pre-sentence background report on Burrows.

Judge Nicholas Barker told the defendant that he must now have his name entered on the Sex Offender Register. He told Burrows: “You understand now that the court will only consider a sentence of custody.

“Such a sentence will be one of some duration.”

Setting the sentence date as June 10, the judge remanded Burrows in custody. The judge went on to thank the jury for their work on the case, saying that they had his sympathy and his thanks for their efforts.

The evidence that formed the basis of their guilty verdicts had been compelling, said the judge.

He added that as a result of the convictions, Burrows is likely to be on the Sex Offender Register for the rest of his life.