One-sided forgeries land man in court

A teenager with forged £20 notes was caught out because one side of each had been left blank.

Brandon Runge of the Poacher's Pocket in Ballasalla admitted fraud by false representation when he appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes.

The hearing at Douglas Courthouse was told Runge had driven to Corkill's Garage in Onchan on April 16 and asked to exchange Manx notes for English.

But staff at the petrol station quickly noticed Runge's notes were printed on the wrong sort of paper and had only been printed on one side.

When interviewed by police, the 18 year old claimed he'd been given the fake money by a friend but wouldn't name them.

Mrs Hughes ordered him to do 80 hours community service and pay £125 towards prosecution costs.