NEWS 1
Co-op Travel, Worcester
YOU NEED TO KNOW
Going Places, Cardiff
AT A GLANCE Madoyan’s robberies
l MAY 2006, GRIMSBY: Attempted armed robbery, First Choice Travel
l JUNE 2006, WORCESTER: Stole £14,848 from The Co-operative Travel
l JULY 2006, CARDIFF: Attempted robbery, Going Places
Behind bars: Hayek Madoyan First Choice, Grimsby
l JULY 2006, NEWPORT: Robbed £5,378 from Thomson
l DEC 2006, DARLINGTON: Robbed £10,247 from Dawson & Sanderson
Thomson, Scunthorpe
Jailed: the armed robber who terrorised UK agents
Juliet Dennis
juliet.dennis@
travelweekly.co.uk
‘Brave’ agents have been praised by police for helping put an armed robber behind bars.
Hayek Madoyan was jailed last
week for 16 years for stealing £82,500 in gunpoint raids at eight travel agencies in 2006 and 2007. Female foreign exchange cashiers at Thomson, First Choice, Going Places (now Thomas Cook), Dawson & Sanderson, Bath Travel (now Hays Travel) and Travelcare (now The Co-operative Travel) and The Co-operative Travel faced terrifying ordeals at the hands of Madoyan, who pointed a gun at them and demanded cash. Some suffered nightmares and had to take months off, while one
was unable to return to work. Two were pregnant at the time. At two agencies, staff refused to
hand over cash. Carol Armstrong, of Travelcare, Weymouth, said there was no money to hand over, while Rebecca Nielson, of Going Places, Cardiff, who was the only agent to appear in court in person, recalled saying: “I can’t give you the money. It’s not mine.” Madoyan, 43, a former soldier and Armenian karate team coach, entered the UK illegally in 2001 claiming asylum. He fled to Switzerland in 2008 but was traced and extradited last year to face trial at Hull Crown Court before being sentenced last week. All the agents gave evidence by
video link apart from Nielson. After the case, Detective Sgt Gary Peck of Humberside Police, said:
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travelweekly.co.uk 11 August 2016
“I have no doubt you left a lasting emotional impact on your victims”
“You never forget events if you have been held up by a man with a gun and his trial has forced the women to relive those robberies. Some showed great bravery in dealing with him when you bear in mind he had a gun. Justice has been a long time coming.” Police looked into 31 robberies
but because of charging criteria and the time lapse, presented only eight to the court. Madoyan was convicted and
found guilty of 16 offences, including five charges of robbery,
l AUGUST 2007, WEYMOUTH: Attempted robbery, Travelcare
l AUGUST 2007, WEYMOUTH: Stole £30,312, Bath Travel
l DEC 2007, SCUNTHORPE: Took £21,812 from Thomson
three of attempted robbery and eight of possessing an imitation firearm, between May 30, 2006, and December 8, 2007. Sentencing, Judge David
Tremberg said: “You targeted bureau de changes in small travel agencies where you expected to find relatively rich pickings and the level of security was much less than banks and building societies. “I have no doubt you left a
lasting emotional impact on your victims. You risked causing serious emotional harm and have done so.” An Abta spokesman said:
“Unfortunately high street shops can be an attractive target for robbers, many of whom may
threaten or use violence.” n Do you feel secure in your agency? Email
juliet.dennis@
travelweekly.co.uk
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