A MAN in severe financial trouble bought fake £20 notes but was caught twice when he tried to spend them at his local shop.

George Woods paid £160 for £460 worth of counterfeit currency from a friend in the pub who had heard he was in debt.

But, even though the notes were of obvious poor quality -- Woods rubbed hand cream into them to make them more presentable -- he went to the Late Shop in Tottington twice in three days and tried to buy goods.

The fake notes were spotted each time by assistants.

Woods was identified through CCTV and admitted admitted having the notes when he was arrested.

Woods, aged 49, of Bowes Close, Bury, who pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing counterfeit notes and one charge of having custody of counterfeit notes, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence. He was jailed for nine months.

Judge Bruce Macmillan said that while he appreciated Woods had large debts and that he was of previous good character, a jail sentence was inevitable.

Prosecutor Richard Heap said that when police went to Woods's home, he produced a further 11 counterfeit £20 notes and admitted he had passed others "all over the place".

He told police he had been suffering financial problems and he had bought the notes from a friend in the pub and he put hand cream on them because they were of poor quality.

The court heard that Woods had been made bankrupt by the Inland Revenue and that his financial problems stemmed from a failed business 10 years ago.

He had been in the Army for 12 years, carrying out six tours of duty in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles and had served in the Falklands War.

The judge was told that Woods regretted making a stupid mistake and was remorseful. His employer described him as hard working and honest.