Counterfeit notes courier loses his liberty (From Wirral Globe)
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Counterfeit notes courier loses his liberty
1:54pm Tuesday 24th March 2009 in News By Lynda Roughley
A gambling addict took a chance to sort out his debt problem by agreeing to transport more than £16,000 worth of counterfeit bank notes.
But Sean O'Grady's gamble did not come off as a bizarre mystery phone call led to police searching his car and finding the cash hidden in a toy elephant.
They also found a small amount of cocaine and today 19-year-old O'Grady was sentenced to 12 months detention.
Judge William George said he had become part of a quite sophisticated distribution system and it was a serious offence.
"You got involved with heartless and ruthless people who exploited your immaturity and naivety."
Liverpool Crown Court heard that O'Grady travelled from his home in Caernarvon in North Wales to transport the 818 notes, worth £16,360 which he had divided into 14 envelopes containing bundles of £20 notes, to Wirral.
About 5.45pm on September 22 last year police went to Rowson Street in New Brighton after receiving a call about a woman tied up in the back of an Audi A3.
They found a car matching the description but the woman in the back , O'Grady's girlfriend, was not tied up and said she was safe.
O'Grady came back to the vehicle and because of the circumstances the officers decided to search the car.
In the boot an officer saw a toy elephant with its front open and inside he saw 14 brown envelopes.
He tore one open and saw it contained £20 notes which had the same serial numbers.
O'Grady was arrested and 888 mg of cocaine was found on him for his own use, said Ian Davies, prosecuting.
O'Grady, of Tyddyn Whisgun Farm, Waunfaur Road, pleaded guilty to possessing counterfeit currency and possessing cocaine.
Gary Leslin-Davies, defending, said that O'Grady lives with his parents and had obtained 10 GCSE's before starting work as a welder.
He coped the death of his grandparents by turning to gambling and became addicted.
He could have asked his parents to pay off his debts but instead agreed to act as a courier for the notes in return for £500 being written off his debt.
He had to divide them into envelopes and when his car was searched police found written instructions for where he was take the notes.
"It was an extremely naive offence not assisted by the impetuosity of youth," said Mr Leslin-Davies.
