Teen admits exchanging fake dollars worth £600
A TEEN who exchanged $1,000 of counterfeit money for sterling has been tagged by a court.
Paul Brown, 19, appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court for sentencing after admitting he knew the US dollars were counterfeit.
The court heard that Brown pleaded guilty after the crown produced CCTV evidence, which showed the transaction at the bureau exchange within the Tesco store at Silverburn Shopping Centre.
The offence happened on March 6, 2015 and the exchange was worth £606, which has not been recovered.
Sentencing Sheriff Ian Miller joked that the exchange would not be worth that now.
The court heard that it had taken some time for Brown to be charged with the offence.
The Procurator Fiscal depute said: “He appeared to be actively avoiding the police.”
Brown’s defence agent told the court that his client had been hanging around with a peer group that he should not have been.
He explained: “Mr Brown was in a difficult relationship with his parents and often found himself being put out the family home.
“He appreciates that it was rather stupid of him to do this.”
He continued: “This is a man who has never been in trouble with police. Mr Brown was told that he would get easy money.”
The court also heard that Mr Brown has a cannabis addiction which his defence agent said needs to be addressed.
Prior to sentencing Brown, of Crosslett Place, Glasgow, Sheriff Miller said: “I am not entirely happy with the circumstances but I am not sentencing you on that.
“I am sentencing you on the charge.”
He was placed under supervision for one year and he was told to complete 230 hours of unpaid work in the community within six months.
He was also placed on a restriction of liberty order for three months.
He cannot leave the house from 8pm to 6am.
Sheriff Miller issued a final warning to Brown: “I hope that it means you do not need to be in court again.”