TWO men convicted of serious sexual offences against children were hired to work at Barry Island Pleasure Park earlier this summer, working there for over seven weeks before being apprehended by police.

Peter Radford, 34, and Benjamin Thomas, 25, gained employment at the amusement park in early June, after inquiring on a number of occasions about part-time work opportunities.

The pair were identified and arrested by police in the early hours of Sunday, July 23, following reports regarding a missing person. That investigation has since been dropped by South Wales Police.

Radford and Thomas attended Cardiff Magistrates’ Court the following day and pleaded guilty to breaching their Sexual Offences Prevention Orders, after failing to report to their local police stations in Coventry and Birmingham respectively.

It is believed both men had been in direct violation of these orders by deliberately gaining employment likely to bring them into contact with children. Each was given an immediate 10 month prison sentence.

Radford had previously been convicted at Preston Crown Court of engaging in sexual activity with a child under the age of 13 and also has a further charge set to lie on file relating to the abduction of a child. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in May 2013.

Thomas’ previous convictions include two counts of rape of a child aged between 13 and 15, as well as two counts of sexual activity with a child. He was given a five year sentence in 2012 at Worcester Crown Court.

Both men are required to sign on the sex offender register for life.

Barry Island Pleasure Park owner, Henry Danter, said that park policies on hiring new staff had been amended since the incident.

“They came here asking for some part-time work on three occasions,” said Mr Danter.

“The first two occasions there was none available, but a vacancy opened up so we took them on.”

Mr Danter said the pair had been asked to sign the register held by the park ,documenting its employees over the previous 12 months, but said that they gave false names and addresses.

“Before we could do anything about it they were arrested,” he said.

“As soon as we get someone new that wants a job, we take their name and address and we ring the police.

“In all my years in the business I’ve never been in a situation like this before, but now it can happen.

“This is the world today. We have learnt some lessons.”