A FORMER soldier has been jailed for trying to buy goods with fake £20 notes at a York store.

Rob Galley, prosecuting, told York Crown Court that Geoffrey Madge, of Barlby, returned three times to the Sainsbury’s shop on October 3.

On his first visit, Madge managed to buy £12 of goods with a counterfeit £20 note. But the cashier realised that the note was not genuine and when he returned a few minutes later, she refused to accept another dodgy £20 note, and he left.

Staff at the shop, close to Fulford Road Police Station, alerted police who arrested Madge when he returned for the third time some minutes later.

Police found more fake £20 notes at Madge’s then home in York. He told them he had bought them for £11 each. He has since moved to West View Mount, at Barlby, near Selby.

“You did it for your own greed,” Judge Jim Spencer QC told Madge.

“If everybody did that, then the fabric of society would be ruined.”

Madge, 39, had been on a 28-week suspended sentence at the time imposed for domestic violence. The judge ordered him to serve that term, plus 12 months for the counterfeit crimes, making a total of 19 months.

Madge pleaded guilty to possessing eight counterfeit notes at his home and passing two counterfeit notes.

In mitigation, Anthony Moore said Madge had served in the Army for nine years before he was discharged in 2002 and his son was currently serving in Afghanistan. He had bought the notes while drinking in a pub on a night out.