EXETER BUSINESSWOMAN SUSAN REYNOLDS FINED FOR EMPLOYING BARRED PAEDOPHILE DENNIS PASSOVER TO DRIVE SCHOOL BUSES
In a case that has raised serious concerns about safeguarding and employment practices, a businesswoman from Exeter was found guilty of allowing a convicted paedophile to operate school transportation services despite being fully aware of his criminal background.Susan Reynolds, aged 61, was involved in the employment of Dennis Passover, a man with a known history of indecent image possession and a barred status preventing him from working with children.
The incident came to light after Passover, who had been cautioned in 2008 for possessing indecent images of children, was caught in a police investigation.
Despite his criminal record and the restrictions placed upon him, Reynolds employed him with her coach company, Reynolds Diplomat Coaches, for several years.
The court heard that Passover was allowed to drive children to school between 2010 and 2015, a period during which Reynolds was aware of his barred status.
Details of the case revealed that in March 2015, Passover was involved in a dramatic incident when police arrived at a depot in Ealing Broadway, west London, to arrest him.
Upon noticing the police, Passover abandoned the coach he was driving in the middle of the road, leaving children stranded and causing a significant safety concern.
He then fled the scene, only to be apprehended later that day in Hastings.
The police investigation confirmed that Passover had been convicted related to the possession of indecent images of children, and he had been placed on a barred list in September 2008, which explicitly prohibited him from engaging in activities involving children.
Further inquiries by Hertfordshire Council uncovered that Reynolds had employed Passover for many years, believing that his caution was related to selling pornographic videos, rather than his barred status.
She claimed she was unaware of his restrictions and only knew of his caution, which she thought was unrelated to child abuse.
The court was told that Passover had ceased working for Reynolds in 2008 but was re-employed two years later, in 2010.
In her sentencing, Reynolds was fined £7,500 for her role in permitting Passover to drive children to school during the period from 2010 to 2015, despite knowing he was barred from such activities.
Recorder Bruce Houlder QC emphasized the importance of safeguarding children, stating, “You are also an intelligent woman.
You know perfectly well that that law is in place not to make life more difficult for employers, but to protect children from the possibility that they may be subjected to a form of abuse.” He acknowledged that Reynolds initially dismissed Passover but re-employed him, fully aware of his barred status.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring that individuals with known criminal backgrounds do not pose a risk to vulnerable children, and it underscores the importance of vigilance among employers in the childcare and transportation sectors.
