A man from Great Yarmouth who passed fake £20 notes in three Suffolk towns has been jailed for 12 months.

Francis McDonagh was arrested after his fingerprints were found on one of the counterfeit Bank of Scotland notes, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said McDonagh had passed two of the notes to a shop and a market trader in Lowestoft and had passed the other two in Bungay and Beccles.

A shopkeeper in Lowestoft who was given one of the notes wasn't familiar with Bank of Scotland notes and looked on the internet to find out how to check it was genuine.

She realised it was a forgery when it didn't register when an ultraviolet scanner was passed over it.

Mr Crimp said on each occasion McDonagh had purchased low cost items and had been given change.

McDonagh, 25, of Tyrell's Road, Great Yarmouth, admitted passing four counterfeit £20 notes in June.

John Morgans for McDonagh said his client had been short of money and had wanted to 'make a fast buck.'