SUPPORTERS have rallied to the aid of Avon Valley Railway after it fell prey to a shocking fraud.
The volunteer-led charity at Bitton estimates it lost about £50,000 after a scam carried out by an employee who went by the name of Matthew Smith.
After the resignation of visitor services officer Smith, who had been trusted and well-liked by AVR members, they discovered his true identity was Nathan Hudson, a career criminal wanted by police after a series of scams in Humberside and Edinburgh.
The railway launched a Bounce Back appeal, which has brought in donations from far and wide.
A spokesman for Avon Valley Railway Heritage Trust told the Voice the charity wanted to thank everyone who has helped so far.
“Our appeal has now raised over £11,000 thanks to the incredible local community, members and volunteers of the railway, alongside the wider railway community – with donations from as far as Australia! This amount has really begun to make a difference against the overall financial loss the railway has experienced, allowing us to begin considering what railway projects and restorations can resume with the relieved funds,” he said.
AVR is also urging people to report any sightings of or information about Nathan Hudson to the police using the non-emergency number 101 and quoting crime reference number: 24*149140.
Announcing the fraud, the railway trust said it was horrified to discover that what appeared to be a few financial anomalies had turned out to be serious and deliberate acts of fraud, with Hudson having created fake profiles and apparently fabricating documentation to maintain the illusion of his false identity.
“He used his well-liked character to gain trust and build ‘friendships’ with staff and volunteers across the organisation. Some staff and volunteers have also been financially impacted. This is likely a strategy he had successfully employed in his numerous previous scams. “The actions of this person have had a severe personal impact on the volunteers, staff and management of the railway, who trusted him and thought of him as a friend and valued colleague, making it a difficult and stressful time for all of us. We are working hard to recover from the situation.”
The railway’s chairman Roger Eynon said; “It’s been a difficult few months for all of us and we’re working hard to recover from Matthew Smith/Nathan Hudson’s actions.”
Donations can be made at avrht.org/bounceback