A MAN who tried to use a fake £20 note to pay for a pizza has been jailed.
Chester Crown Court was told Lee Robert Riley was caught when the delivery driver became suspicious and called the police who found a wallet stuffed with 39 counterfeit £20 notes in the boot of a car.
It was the second time that day Riley, 29, had tried to use the fake notes having earlier tried to buy scratch cards, but alert shop assistants called the police.
Chris Taylor, prosecuting, said police went to a house in Newry Park East, Chester, after Riley tried to pay for the pizza on August 4, 2012.
Officers searched and found the fake notes in the boot of a Volkswagen Golf belonging to an acquaintance of Riley.
Mr Taylor said: “The pizza delivery man became suspicious after he went off to get change and alerted police.
“On examination the defendant’s fingerprints were found on one of the notes from the bundle.”
Riley, of Chester Road, Helsby, pleaded guilty to possessing counterfeit currency and was sentenced to six months imprisonment by The Recorder of Chester Judge Elgan Edwards.
“This is a very serious matter,” said Judge Edwards.
“Having counterfeit money is just simply conning people and it can’t be tolerated.”