A MERCILESS armed robber received a 16 year prison sentence after committing a string of armed robberies across the UK, including a £30,000 raid in Weymouth.

Hayek Madoyan, 43, was found guilty of 16 separate offences between May, 2006, and December, 2007, following a four-week trial at Hull Crown Court. 

Madoyan was convicted of five charges of robbery, three of attempted robbery, and eight of possessing an imitation firearm. 

A former Armenian karate team coach, Madoyan entered the UK illegally in 2001 claiming asylum.

His 18-month robbery rampage saw him threaten female foreign exchange cashiers across the country with a black pistol, stealing a total of £82,000.

In 2008, after his picture appeared on BBC’s Crimewatch, Madoyan fled to Switzerland, eventually being traced and extradited back to the UK in September last year. 

Madoyan targeted Weymouth on August 31 2007, starting with Travelcare in St Mary’s Street where a Carol Armstrong was working.

Miss Armstrong recalled Madoyan peered into the store for 20 minutes before he entered and demanded she hand over the money from the till. 

He continued his raid at what was then Bath Travel (now Hays Travel) where he threatened a member of staff, Claire Ford, with his pistol.

Fearing for her life, and that or her colleagues, Miss Ford handed over money from both the bureau de change drawer and the safe. 

While Hays Travel did not wish to comment on the robbery, business records show a total of £30,312 was stolen.

Sentencing Judge David Tremberg told Madoyan he turned to crime after exhausting all legal means to stay in the UK.

He said: “You targeted bureau de changes in small travel agencies where you expected to find relatively rich picking and the level of security which 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.”

Crown barrister Ian Mullarkey told the jury Madoyan was a ‘brazen liar’ who had never attempted to disguise his identity.

Madoyan now faces investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act to claim back the illegal gains.