A 37-YEAR-OLD Darwen man was caught in possession of counterfeit bank notes which the police said would not have fooled a child.

And defence solicitor Daniel King, commenting on an application to return the notes to the Bank of England, said it might be more appropriate to return them to the Bank of Toytown.

Carl David Beeke, of Hawthorn Avenue, pleaded guilty to possessing counterfeit currency and theft of property from a car parked in Swan Street, Darwen. The magistrates deferred sentence until July 30.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Beeke and another man were seen in the early hours of the morning and police found they were in possession of property stolen from a car. They also found the currency on Beeke. "The notes were of a very poor quality and the police said even a child would be able to tell they were fake," said Mr White.

"To describe them as poor quality is an understatement," said Mr King.

"The Bank of Toytown would be more interested in them than the Bank of England." He said Beeke had a long-standing problem with amphetamine addiction.

"He has made tremendous progress and the suggestion to defer sentence is to see if he can maintain that progress," said Mr King.

"It is to test him over a period of time, to test his resolve and commitment and see if he can maintain it for a number of months."