Counterfeiter sentenced after scheme to import and circulate fake cash

Gateshead man Martin Allison, 43, is now behind bars after his attempt to import, make and distribute counterfeit money.

Allison was caught in July 2024 after UK Border Force officers intercepted a large quantity of cash, enquiries with officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit uncovered Allison had manipulated a colleague to unknowingly receive the counterfeit package on his behalf.

Allison was arrested and subsequently charged with five offences including making a counterfeit of a currency note, fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on counterfeit currency and deliver a thing knowing/believing it to be a counterfeit currency note.

Aware of the overwhelming evidence against him he pleaded guilty to all charges and on Friday (March 27) he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court and was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment.

NEROCU Detective Constable Lee Spry, said: “Allison has quickly learned that crime doesn’t pay – no matter how well you fake it.

“I want to thank our Border Force partners and all officers involved in this investigation which has resulted in a fraudster behind bars.

“As part of Operation Sentinel – our regional approach to tackling Serious and Organised Crime – work just like this will continue to ensure the North East remains a safe place to live, work and visit.”

Neil Harris, Head of the National Counterfeit Currency Unit at the National Crime Agency (NCA), said: “I am most grateful for the work undertaken by NEROCU to investigate this matter and bring the offender to justice.

“The custodial sentence imposed demonstrates the serious nature of this type offending and stance taken by the Courts.

“If it were not for the action taken by the Police these notes would have caused financial loss to businesses and members of the public who accepted these counterfeit notes in payment."

He added: “The Banks notes being imported and distributed linked to this investigation are often marketed / advertised as prop notes or movie money.

“Bank notes sold online and marketed on social media as ‘prop notes / movie money’ are counterfeit and to import, possess, sell or use them as payment is a criminal offence.

“We see foil stickers added to these counterfeit notes to conceal the ‘prop notes’ text, and these foil stickers are also illegal to possess, buy or sell.

“The UK’s National Counterfeit Currency Unit in the NCA works closely with online ‘selling’ sites and social media platforms to prevent adverts for counterfeit currency being made or, where identified, ensure they are removed.

“We share intelligence with police forces and ROCUs across the UK to identify the offenders behind the sales and importations to enable arrest and prosecution of offenders.

If you have concerns about criminal activity in your community, you can contact local police or alternatively the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

There are simple checks you can make to identify a counterfeit bank note by checking the holographic foil strip – on a genuine note the wording in this strip will change (switch) from the value of the note to ‘pounds’, for example from ‘twenty’ to ‘pounds’, but on a counterfeit note, this word is fixed.

Check the name of the bank – on a genuine note this wording will be raised but a counterfeit one will be smooth to touch.

Further information on how to check Bank of England notes can be found at the following links: -

• Key security features £20 note: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/polymer-20-pound-note
• Key security features £10 note: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/polymer-10-pound-note
• How to check all Bank of England polymer notes: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/counterfeit-banknotes/how-to-check-your-banknotes