A WIRRAL man who laundered money stolen in robberies by using local betting shops has been jailed for four months.

Mark Pritchard went to four bookies in Wallasey and put Bank of England notes, which were stained with red security dye, into gaming machines and ended up with £40 "clean" cash and a £300 credit note.

Anne McCracken, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that 25-year-old Pritchard took the dyed money into the Ladbroke's shops, incluidng Liscard Road and Victoria Road on November 6 last year.

Over an hour and a half he put notes into gambling machines and ended up with the credit note and £40 cash, she said. The police were alerted as staff had become suspicious and he was arrested later the same afternoon.

Pritchard, of Borough Road East, Wallasey, who has numerous previous convictions, made no comment when interviewed.

He pleaded guilty to three offences of money laundering.

JaIling him Judge John Roberts said, "The courts are very anxious to deter people from using ill gotten gains from criminal offences."

He said he accepted it all happened on one day and he had been foolish but they were serious offences.

Neil Gunn, defending, said that Pritchard, a labourer, had developed a cocaine habit and got into debt. He could not pay this and was threatened which led to him committing the offences.

"He found himselfr in what he saw as an impossible situation and he accepts he has been a fool," said Mr Gunn. His girlfriend is six months pregnant, he added.