A FORMER Royal Marine Commando, from the Forest of Dean has avoided jail after admitting trying to use counterfeit money.

Steven Jones, of Machen Road, Broadwell pleaded guilty to trying to pass a £20 note and being in possession of a further 16 notes with intent on September 22 last year.

At Gloucester Crown Court Judge Jason Taylor QC said that such offences ‘almost invariably’ attract an immediate custodial sentence and added: “They go to the very fabric of society, undermining confidence, harming the economy generally.”

However the judge ruled that there was enough ‘personal mitigation’ to merit passing a suspended jail term on Jones instead.

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