CONSTRUCTION worker David Jolly, who came to Swindon with fake bank notes and a shopping list, has been jailed for two years.

The counterfeit £20 notes were so realistic that Swindon Crown Court Judge John McNaught said: "At first blush, they aren't bad, are they?"

The judge had been shown two specimen forged £20, one Scottish and one English.

Robin Shellard, prosecuting, said the notes' watermark had been stamped on the silver line through the centre.

"The only thing which gave them away was the quality of the paper and printing slightly off centre," he said.

Jolly, 34, formerly of Bamber Bridge, Preston, admitted one charge of possessing counterfeit notes with intent to pass them as legal tender and five other charges including tendering and possessing the notes.

Mr Shellard said that a previous problem with fake Scottish notes had made Swindon traders loathe to accept them.

On February 24 this year police were called to Sainsbury's superstore in Bridgemead to investigate a report of deception.

They saw two men, one of them Jolly, in the electrical department who had been attempting to buy a TV with counterfeit currency.

They were taken to the store office where more counterfeit currency in both English and Scottish notes was found.

In a van in the store car park, four more forged notes were found together with a large number of items including two pairs of expensive CAT boots, a PlayStation and games, and another TV set, with shop receipts.

Jolly, now living a caravan in Bedford, told police he had found himself in debt and became involved with 'heavy criminals.'

He received between £7,000 and £7,500 in counterfeit £20 notes from them.

"For every £20 he was given, he would have to give back £6 to the people who supplied him," said Mr Shellard.

Richard Tutt, defending, said that divorced Jolly had become bankrupt on February 13 this year, with his company's debts amounting to £80,000. He found it difficult to get work in the Preston area and was unable to claim benefit.

"People came to him and he was offered £400 in forged £20 notes, which he used to buy food and other shopping," said Mr Tutt.

Judge McNaught told Jolly: "You were involved in dealing, possessing and buying things with fake notes. It is serious and it has to attract a prison sentence to deter others who might be tempted."

Before he was led away, Jolly said: "I was trying my best to get straight."

After the case, DC Bob Cooper said goods worth about £1,000 had been bought on the day Jolly was arrested.

Suspicions were aroused and details passed on to Sainsbury's through a computer system.