Two brothers who were caught passing counterfeit cash to shopkeepers in Oban were fined £500 each at the town’s sheriff court yesterday.
John and Charlie McDonagh, both 21, pleaded guilty to passing as tender a quantity of fake £50 notes at Fancy That and Angler’s Corner on George Street on February 2.
Upon hearing that they were on job seekers allowance and had failed to appear at a previous date, Sheriff Ruth Anderson QC said: “They don’t work, they don’t turn up for court, they try to diddle local shop keepers who are just trying to make a decent living in a holiday town such as Oban.”
The men live at 21 The Fairway, Palmers Green, London and the court heard they have no connection with Oban. A warrant has been issued for a co-accused 17-year-old man of a different address, who cannot be named because he is under 18.
Fiscal Eoin McGinty said: “Charlie McDonagh entered Fancy That and purchased a lighter and a keyring to a total value of £5.48. He paid with a £50 note and received amongst his change two £20 notes.
“John McDonagh entered into Angler’s Corner and purchased some sling shot ammunition for £7.95. He paid with a £50 note and received four £10 notes in his change. He then left.
“Very shortly afterwards the shop keeper in Angler’s Corner noted something suspicious about the £50 note and established it was counterfeit. He ran out and saw the three accused walking towards Dunollie Road. He phoned the police.”
Officers were able to trace them on CCTV and approached them on foot in George Street. They ran into MacPhee’s Solicitors office where they were detained.
As part of investigations police later found 11 fake £50 notes and four fake £10 notes which had been dumped in the hallway of the building just prior to the arrest, the court heard.
Sheriff Ruth Anderson said: “In an effort to get rid of this, because we are just costing the tax payer even more money, I am going to impose a fine of £500 each.”
She told them: “Keep paying your fines and you won’t have to come back to Oban, and frankly we will be quite happy if you don’t come back.”