A trainee soldier who tendered counterfeit £20 notes in a Galashiels nightclub, and the man who produced them on a computer, were both sentenced to unpaid work in the community.
Twenty-year-old Satinder Sing Malhi, of Loch View, Tweedbank, admitted passing the counterfeit cash to staff at Move nightclub on April 30 last year. Earlier the same day, he had also tendered a similar counterfeit note at The Fleece pub in Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk.
Co-accused Glenn Douglas, also 20, of Tower Street, Selkirk, pleaded guilty to producing counterfeit £20 notes and passing them on at his home on April 29 last year.
Douglas was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, while Malhi was sentenced to 72 hours, fined £360 and ordered to pay £240 compensation.
“Douglas produced a quantity of counterfeit notes and passed them to Malhi who attempted to pass them as genuine,” explained depute procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday.
“On April 30, they met up and Douglas handed Malhi a bundle of counterfeit notes,” she continued.
Malhi went into The Fleece around 10.30pm, bought a drink at the bar and handed over one of the notes.
“It was only when the bar money was totalled at the end of the night that the counterfeit note was noticed,” said Ms Bradley, and suspicion fell on the accused as the rest of the customers had been “regulars”.
Afterwards, Malhi handed over some 12 counterfeit notes during his time in Move.
When he was confronted by the licensee, Malhi offered to repay the money rather than involving the police.
Malhi’s solicitor, Robert More, described the offences as “an utterly harebrained scheme”.
He added: “It was very foolish and something he profoundly regrets. It may have grave consequences for his army career, and custody would lead to his discharge.”
The lawyer for Douglas said his client had produced the counterfeit notes on a PC and printer, scanning them on to A4 paper and cutting them out. “The notes were poor quality and easily recognisable, and there was no financial gain to him,” he explained.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond told both accused: “It is said that you did not appreciate the seriousness of the course on which you embarked at the time. If you didn’t know then, you certainly should now.
“This is a serious offence against the currency and against people at large, and such matters require to be dealt with seriously.”