Friday, May 02, 2008

Gunman holds 5 women hostage over unpaid bill

A van driver said to be armed with a knife and a gun held five women hostage yesterday in a row over an unpaid bill. A 44-year-old delivery driver named Nigel stormed into the offices of clothing firm, Team Colours, in Stanstead Abbotts, Herts and began ranting about money he was owed.

He allegedly pointed a gun at terrified boss Rosemary Rogers and held a knife to her throat as armed police raced to the building.

The driver immediately sent two male workers from the offices but held Rosemary and four women staff hostage. Two were later released. But he kept the others prisoners for three hours as police negotiators tried to talk him into giving himself up.

As their talks continued he became increasingly distressed and at one point hurled his trousers and shoes out of a window.

He finally surrendered and was taken away in a police car from the industrial estate wearing just a vest.

One worker said: "The driver is normally a quiet guy but he must have lost the plot completely. He was ranting and raving about unpaid bills and I heard he held a gun and a knife to one woman's throat. It seemed like he had a breakdown. He wasn't making any sense."

Police last night said a man from Luton had been arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment.

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