Officers found he was carrying fake Scottish notes

A COUNCIL employee who was obsessed with saving money has been jailed for photocopying bank notes to spend on holiday.
Ian Michael Andrew, who works as a planning enforcement officer at Cheshire East Council, had produced more than Pounds 1,000 worth of counterfeit cash.
Mold Crown Court heard how the offender, aged 52, of Ruscoe Avenue, Sandbach, copied genuine Scottish Pounds 10 notes using photocopying machines in public libraries.
He then took them to Wrexham, North Wales, last month, hoping shop staff there would not detect the crude copies.

Sandra Subacchi, prosecuting, said Andrew had successfully used one of the notes at the town's Iceland store on April 21.

But he was caught out 15 minutes later when staff in nearby WH Smith became suspicious and seized one of the notes.

Andrew was unaware that traders had broadcast an alert on their Shop Link security network.

When Air Max 90 Mens he tried to use another note in McDonald's, police arrested him.

Officers found he was carrying fake Scottish notes.

A search of Andrew's home uncovered another 104 of the photocopies.

When questioned about the scam, the defendant told police he had obtained the Marni handbag genuine notes during a recent holiday in Inverness and copied them at libraries.

Henry Hills, defending, told how his client had become depressed and developed an obsession with saving money after getting divorced.

Andrew, who pleaded guilty to passing, possessing and making counterfeit currency notes, was sentenced to two years in prison.

Judge Philip Richards said: "They are very serious offences which go to the root of the currency system within the UK."

Cheshire East Council yesterday said Andrew, who had previously worked for Congleton Borough Council, was still its employee.