A STRABANE man was charged with possession of counterfeit currency at the town's Magistrates Court last week, after more than £2000 in counterfeit notes was found in the bottom of his wardrobe.

The court was told that police had visited the Main Street home of 46 year-old Joseph Campbell in relation to an unconnected matter.

When asked if he was in possession of any items he couldn't account for, he produced a quantity of counterfeit currency from the bottom of a wardrobe, where it had been under a pile of clothes.

When asked about the money he told police "I found it."

A further three notes were found in his pocket, which he said he had taken to show a friend and had forgotten to remove them.

FOUND IT

He was subsequently charged with possession of £2250 of counterfeit currency.

A defence solicitor said that his client maintained the version of events he had given to police, saying that he had found it a few days previously and had intended to hand it in.

He pointed out that there had been no instances of local businesses being in receipt of counterfeit notes around the time, either in Strabane or surrounding areas.

He also argued that the fact that police did not pursue a charge of intent to supply showed that there must have been nothing more sinister involved.

RM Mr McNally said that such an offence must be treated and taken very seriously, as counterfeit currency causes a great problem to the business community.

He handed down a sentence of four months in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also fined £500 and a destruction order was made for the counterfeit notes.