HIGGS:GANG PRODUCED £160,000 WORTH OF HIGH QUALITY FORGED BANK NOTES

A gang produced £160,000 of high-quality counterfeit bank notes from their east London homes, a court heard today (Weds).

The forgers used an industrial printer and even inserted foil strips into the notes to mimic the real notes.

Their production line was shut down after fake notes were handed to experts at the Bank of England and a police investigation began.

The scam was orchestrated by Anthony Higgs, 54, who involved a network of six  co-conspirators to buy and store the bulky equipment needed to make the counterfeit £20 and £50 notes, the Old Bailey heard.

Nicola Merrick, prosecuting, said: ‘Mr Higgs in the kingpin, the person who is sufficiently skillful to produce counterfeit notes.

‘To do that, you have to have a lot of know-how and also a lot of equipment in order to produce good, passable fake £20 and £50 notes.

‘They have to be produced in a form that will pass muster with ordinary people.’

The court heard that Higgs bought the kit from unwitting St Albans-based printer supplier Caslon Ltd between July and December 2009 – including a massive £7,400 unit paid for in cash.

Using the false names ‘Paul’ and ‘Alan’, Higgs and fellow conman Michael Garratt, 60, allegedly collected the equipment in around half a dozen trips to the Hertfordshire dealers.

Following a purchase on September 2, Garratt and alleged gang member Richard McCleave, 63, are said to have been pictured together in a car after triggering a speed camera on their way out of the town.

Higgs used his girlfriend, 61-year-old Lynn Davies, to store equipment, paper and foil, along with Colleen Scaresbrook, 31, the court heard.

Richard McCleave’s son, Morgan McCleave, 28, and Jeanette Britton, 57, are also alleged to have helped but deny involvement in the scam.

‘Each of these defendants played a part in the conspiracies, which the Crown allege took place over the period of a year, in order to produce the counterfeit notes,’ said Ms Merrick.

Britton, of (Flat 56), Navarino Mansions, Dalston Lane, Garratt, of (10) Blanchard Way, and Richard and Morgan McCleave, both of (1) Hayton Close, all Hackney, east London, all deny conspiracy to make counterfeit currency and conspiracy to possession articles for use in the production of counterfeit currency.

Scaresbrook, of (16) Beauford Street, Gainsborough, Lincolshire, and Daniels, of (1a) St George’s Road, Leyton, east London, both admitted conspiracy to possess articles for use in the production of counterfeit currency prior to trial, and will be sentenced at a later date.

Higgs, also of St George’s Road, admitted conspiracy to make counterfeit currency and will also face sentencing after the trial.

The trial continues.
ends