A horse-riding instructor is facing trial at Cardiff Crown Court amid allegations that he offered free riding lessons to a showjumper as part of a sexual arrangement, a jury has been told. The instructor, 37-year-old Guy Simmonds, runs a riding school in Undy, Monmouthshire, and is accused of multiple counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16. Both he and his co-defendant, Lauren Jarvis, aged 26, have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the proceedings, the court heard testimony from Ms Jarvis, herself a showjumper and care support worker. Jarvis explained that she had entered into a sexual relationship with Mr Simmonds, enduring a situation she described as “uncomfortable”. According to her evidence, the relationship was initiated in 2021, after the pair met when Jarvis attended a riding lesson at Simmonds’ stables.
Ms Jarvis recalled the initial meeting as being flirtatious. Simmonds reportedly commented during the lesson, “I wish you would ride me like you ride your horses.” She said that after this interaction, Mr Simmonds began contacting her through social media messaging platforms, sometimes requesting inappropriate photographs even though she was in a committed relationship at the time. Following these exchanges, Jarvis stated that she decided to block him and ceased lessons for a considerable period.
However, contact was re-established in August of 2023, after Ms Jarvis ended a long-term relationship. She told the court that Mr Simmonds began persistently requesting sexual favours in return for free horse-riding lessons, valued at £40 each. Although she initially resisted, she eventually agreed to his terms, citing fear and continuing discomfort as factors in her compliance.
The court also heard that, as part of the arrangement, the pair entered a period where Jarvis received regular riding instruction without payment in exchange for maintaining a sexual relationship. This continued for several months, she said, until she began paying for lessons once more in an attempt to discourage Simmonds from arriving unannounced at her flat.
Further details emerged regarding the relationship between Jarvis, Mr Simmonds, and the alleged underage complainant. Jarvis stated that while she and the complainant confided in each other about their respective relationships with Simmonds, she never engaged in sexual activity at the same time as both Simmonds and the girl. She did describe conversations about potential threesomes as “banter”, insisting that to her knowledge no such encounter ever took place.
Giving evidence, Ms Jarvis recounted one particularly distressing incident when Simmonds arrived at her flat, knowing the complainant was present for a social evening. When Simmonds reportedly made sexual advances towards both women, Jarvis said she asked the girl to remain downstairs, while she engaged in sex with Simmonds to avoid further aggression.
Despite the ongoing nature of their friendship, Jarvis noted that her relationship with the other complainant deteriorated over time due to disagreements involving people close to Simmonds. Nevertheless, she insisted that her own involvement was restricted to what she described in court, and denied committing any criminal offence involving a minor.
Both Guy Simmonds and Lauren Jarvis, from Acacia Avenue in Undy and Allt-yr-Yn Court in Newport respectively, remain steadfast in their denial of all charges against them. The trial, overseen by Her Honour Judge Lucy Crowther, is still in progress.
It is essential to note that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise, and the testimonies presented are subject to further examination as the trial unfolds. The case attracts ongoing public interest due to the complex and sensitive nature of the allegations, demonstrating the importance of thorough judicial scrutiny in such matters.