Holiday reps arrested

Two British holiday reps have been arrested and charged with encouraging mass binge drinking in return for commission at bars in Greece.

The clampdown by Greek authorities in Rhodes comes after an emergency meeting was called at the weekend to combat British hooliganism after the murder of a
17-year-old boy in a disco brawl.

Captain Themis Kalamatas, the chief of Faliraki-Kallithea police, pledged more arrests would follow that of “those British group leaders considered responsible for this outrageous situation at Faliraki”.

The two reps, Thomas Battista, 31, from Birmingham, and Helen-Louise Sharkey, 33, who lives in Greece, have been charged with “guided illegal trade” —
encouraging young men and women to visit specific establishments in return
for commission from managers.

Such visits, say the charges, lead to excessive drinking, violence and
sexual excesses. The pair reportedly worked for First Choice 2wenties-and Olympic Holidays.

Last month Club 18-30 and the Association of British Travel Agents apologised when five group leaders staged an oral sex competition on the beach at Corfu’s Kavos resort.

The five fled but could be called to return to Greece for trial.

The latest arrests come after a meeting of police, politicians and tour operators, following the death of Paddy Doran, 17, from Peterborough.

Peter Navarro, 21, of Merseyside, has been jailed pending trial after confessing to the killing.