A self-described “numpty” has been jailed for 15 months after attempting to use forged money to buy a multi-pack of tuna, milk, and cans of Stella Artois.
Jersey-born Tyler Colin Ahier appeared before the Royal Court yesterday to be sentenced for seven charges of using notes which he knew to be forged.
The 23-year-old committed the crimes over a ten-day period in November, starting when he tried to paid for drinks at St James’ Wine Bar in with three £20 counterfeit English banknotes.
The forged notes were discovered when a DJ, who was paid £120 in cash by the bar, encountered issues when depositing his wages in his bank.
As a result, the bar owner reviewed the contents of his till and discovered two more counterfeit £20 bank notes.
He confirmed that the only English banknotes received by the bar during the period in questions were those handed in by Ahier.
The remaining six charges involved the use of single £20 notes at Coop and Morrisons stores at various locations around the island.
Ahier used forged money to buy low value items like confectionary, a multi-pack of tuna, cans of Stella Artois.
The final seventh offence related to when Ahier attempted to use the counterfeit cash to pay for the milk at a Morrisons store.
The staff at the till recognised the cash was fake “due to anomalies in its appearance”, the court heard.
When Morrisons employees voiced their suspicions, Ahier “laughed” before leaving the store without attempting to pay for the milk with alternative means.
Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, said Ahier describes himself as a “numpty” who did not carry out the crimes in a “sophisticated” way.
He had “always had difficulty in seeing into the future”, the advocate said, and was only able to focus on putting the next foot on the ground in front of him.
Ahier claimed that the counterfeit notes were given to him as “cash in hand” for work, which Advocate Baglin said shows he is distant from its original source.
The defence lawyer also highlighted that Ahier has ADHD and a mental illness impacting his decision making.
While the prosecution said Ahier showed no remorse during his probation service interviews, Advocate Baglin said his client had since expressed this to him.
Ahier had initially pleaded not guilty and did not change his plea “until the 11th hour” on the first day of his trial, the Bailiff Robert MacRae said.
He was therefore only granted minimal mitigation for his guilty plea.
Delivering the sentence, Mr MacRae described Ahier’s offences as “serious” as it is important that there is “public confidence in currency circulating on the island”.
Although there was “no strong or exceptional mitigation” that could have helped him stay out of jail, the Bailiff said he took Ahier’s young age into account.
The Crown proposed an 18-month jail sentence, but Ahier was ultimately sentenced to the slightly shorter jail time of 15 months.
Jurats Heuzé and Berry were sitting.