Burnley man tried to pass off bogus £500 cheque (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley man tried to pass off bogus £500 cheque

12:30pm Friday 4th January 2013 in News

A FRAUDSTER who tried to cash a cheque for £500 was caught out by shop staff who got suspicious, a court was told.

Joe Adam Barraclough, 21, had gone into the Money Shop, in Manchester Road, Burnley, hoping to end up better off, but left empty-handed after the cheque was confirmed to be not valid.

The town’s magistrates heard how cheques from a batch belonging to a company had got into the wrong hands and people were trying their luck with them. Some had been successful.

Barraclough, a window cleaner, of Airdrie Crescent, Burnley, admitted fraud by false representation. He was fined £35, with a £15 victim surcharge.

Scott Parker, defending, said someone had approached Barraclough and told him if he cashed the cheque, he could keep half the money. The solicitor added: “He rather foolishly attempted to pass the cheque.”