A customer was left horrifed after finding out a convicted Scots paedophile was working at a Christmas entertainment attraction for families.

Aberystwyth’s Vale of Rheidol railway employs Simon Reeves, a former music teacher who was twice sentenced for sexually assaulting primary school pupils.

In 2018, Reeves was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work after he admitted engaging in sexual activity with a young girl in Scotland. The following year, the then-46-year-old was sentenced to 300 unpaid work hours for abusing four other girls. At the time Reeves had fondled four girls aged ten and under while teaching music at a school.

The Vale of Rheidol railway is a registered charity that offers “activities to suit all the family” and a “breathtaking day out with the kids”. One of its activities is a Polar Express experience based on the 2004 animated film starring Tom Hanks. A customer, who wanted to remain anonymous, told WalesOnline they had been “horrified” to learn Reeves was employed at the heritage railway.

They claimed Reeves had been working as a guard and driver on the Polar Express ride. In response the railway told us Reeves is a “diligent and valued” employee and is “not involved in the Polar Express event.” Its spokesman did not respond when asked if Reeves had recently worked on the Polar Express.

The customer told Wales Online: “As a regular visitor to the attraction, [the employment of Reeves] has horrified me as I also know that he drives the little train in the Devil’s Bridge car park over the summer with children on a one-to-one basis. Surely the company and Warner Brothers, who [own the rights to] the Polar Express, should know better than to have this individual working around children.”

In response the railway spokesman said: “The Vale of Rheidol railway takes all matters relating to safeguarding very seriously. We are aware of our employee’s previous history, which relates to a conviction that was spent prior to the start of their employment with us. Their role at the railway has been assessed thoroughly to ensure it does not place them in situations that could be a cause for concern. Throughout their time with us, they have been a diligent and valued member of staff, adhering to all company policies and safeguarding measures. They are not involved in the Polar Express event. We remain committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all our visitors and staff.”

Reeves was previously employed to teach children how to play brass instruments at several primary schools. and rubbed schoolgirls’ legs, backs and thighs as well as playing with their hair and making them sit on his knee while he taught them. In the 2019 case, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard the victims had believed Reeves’ behaviour was “normal” at the time and that he was “just being friendly” by caressing them. But after one of the girls found out he had previously been prosecuted for a similar offence they decided to report him.

In the previous case Reeves had admitted engaging in sexual activity with a young girl which led to him being placed on the sex offenders register for two years and handed 120 hours of unpaid work. The following year he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting four other young girls at a school. Reeves was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work and was again placed on the sex offenders register for two years. A two-year supervision order was imposed barring him from being alone with children.

The Polar Express experience includes gifts to each passenger from a Santa Claus as well as song-and-dance routines featuring the film’s characters. Warner Brothers has been approached for comment.

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