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NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW 4


Cook will bring charges against fraudulent staff


Samantha Mayling


samantha.mayling@ travelweekly.co.uk


Thomas Cook says it “will not hesitate to bring charges” against fraudulent staff after one of its agents was sentenced for stealing thousands of pounds by creating fae refunds.


Holly Cull, who worked at Cook’s


Worthing branch, avoided jail after admitting a fraud in which she took £3,885 from the agency by creating fake refunds – then claimed a holiday worth £3,323,


for which she had paid only £100. The 30-year-old was given a


three-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service, after admitting fraud by false representation at Hove Crown Court last week. Pierce Power, prosecuting, said


the frauds took place between March and August 2017 and the court was told how Cull “racked up huge debt problems” while living in Lewes, East Sussex. Cull, who now lives in


Portsmouth, Hampshire, was said to have shown “genuine


Holly Cull (right) forged refunds at the Worthing branch


remorse” by her defence solicitor Sarah Thorne, who added that the former agent had admitted her offence at the first opportunity  at Brighton Magistrates Court last month. Thorne also told the court that


Cull is now working to pay off her debts and was suffering from a low mood at the time of the fraud. She must complete her community work in the next 18 months.


Local newspaper The Argus


reported that the judge, David Rennie, accepted Cull’s fraud was “out of character”, but warned her: “Don’t be so stupid as to behave in this way again”.


A Thomas Cook spokesman


said: “This was a significant breach of trust from one of our colleagues. We will not hesitate to bring charges against employees where there is evidence of dishonesty.”


5 STORIES HOT


5 UK launches will boost cruise further


Harry Kemble harry.kemble@travelweekly.co.uk


Clia said three ship christenings in Southampton next year would help continue to grow the cruise market as the number of passengers passed two million a year for the first time.


A record-breaking 2,009,400 passengers – up 38,600 on 2017 – took an ocean cruise in 2018, making the UK & Ireland the second European market to reach the milestone after Germany.


The launch of Marella Explorer – a


ship aimed at the UK market  and Azamara Pursuit’s christening in


Southampton, as well as expanding ex-UK cruise programmes, all contributed to the rise, Clia said. Clia UK & Ireland director


Andy Harmer noted a “halo effect when there is a ship launch”, adding that the upcoming christenings of Celebrity Apex,


P&’s Iona and Enchanted Princess in Southampton would be “beneficial” to the sector. Harmer said MSC Bellissima’s launch in March, the biggest


6travelweekly.co.uk18 April 2019


“When you have three big christenings, you can reach a whole new audience”


ever in Southampton, could drive 2019 passenger numbers. Tony Roberts, Clia UK & Ireland chairman and Princess Cruises’ UK & Europe vice-president, added: “When you have three big christenings, you have the ability to reach a whole new audience.” He paid tribute to agents, saying:


“Every single cruise line knows the importance of the trade.” Roberts would not predict when


the three million mark might be reached, but said global capacity grows between 6% and 8% each year and is restricted by available slots at shipyards. He urged the cruise industry


to focus on penetration of the overall holiday market, rather than specific passenger numbers. Clia’s latest figures showed UK passengers were cruising for longer, with the number of 14-day sailings increasing by 5% year-on-year.


PICTURE: EDDIE MITCHELL


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