A 44 year-old man who tried to use a forged banknote has been given a four month prison sentence suspended for two years by Deemster Doyle.

Andrew Paul Moseley, from Bulkington in Warwickshire, admitted one charge of having a forged Bank of England ?20 note.

He was arrested near Bushy's beer tent during the TT period in May, after it was discovered he had handed staff a counterfeit note to pay for drinks.

Moseley was found to have 21 such notes in his possession and in court he faced a specimen charge.

His advocate said Moseley ran a motor business and was used to handling large sums of money.

He had been given the notes by his mechanic who had done a job on a car and didn't realise until he arrived on the Island that the money was counterfeit.

He claimed he had put it at the back of his wallet and did not intend to use it.

Deemster Doyle said custody for such offences was inevitable, but in this case he was exercising leniency and mercy towards Moseley by suspending the sentence.

(Picture: A Bank of England ?20 note).