A bungling forger was dubbed “one of the world”s worst counterfeiters,” when his work was shown to a sheriff.
Perth Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday how hapless Alan Gibson knocked up numerous Bank of Scotland, Bank of England and Royal Bank of Scotland £10 and £20 notes on a basic scanner and printer.
However, the 57-year-old’s plans to pass off the counterfeit notes as genuine were swiftly scuppered due to their shoddy quality.
A rueful Gibson admitted Tayside Police officers who raided his home in Mill Street, Kinross, had described them as “absolute rubbish.”
Police also discovered a quantity of cash, including three £10 notes and two £20 notes, all of which were clearly counterfeit.
Other notes were found to have only been printed on one side.
Meanwhile, officers also seized equipment that seemed to have been used for forgeries, including a computer, printer and scanner.
Gibson pleaded guilty to a total of four charges, the first that on March 5, at Baynes Bakery, he was in possession of a £20 note which he knew to be counterfeit.
He also admitted that on March 14, at Kinross Market, he passed as genuine a £20 note, which he knew to be counterfeit.
Gibson further pleaded guilty to a charge that on March 17, at his home, he made a counterfeit £10 note and £20 note by scanning and printing them off.
He also admitted that, on the same day, he was in possession of three Bank of England £10 notes and two Bank of Scotland £20 notes that he knew were counterfeit and which he intended to pass as genuine.
Solicitor John McLaughlin said Gibson now realised he had been “stupid and immature.”
“The paper quality is a give-away,” he told the court.
“In fact police have said that if Mr Gibson is not the world’s worst counterfeiter then he must be running him close.”
Sheriff Michael Fletcher said at first glance the bank notes looked “fairly genuine” and insisted the offence was “extremely serious.”
He deferred sentence until September 1 for reports and warned a custodial sentence was “near the top of the list” of potential disposals.
Photo courtesy of Stewart Lloyd-Jones.