Spelling and prints catch out fraudster

A bungling fraudster was caught trying to pass a forged cheque - because he spelt it incorrectly and left his fingerprints and his real name on it.

Matthew Francey, 32, of Edinburgh, tried to con a bank into giving him nearly 9000, but staff were suspicious about the appearance of the cheque.

A stop was put on clearing the cheque and when it was properly scrutinised it was found to contain spelling mistakes, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

The cheque was then analysed and found to be marked with a number of clear fingerprints belonging to Francey, who has a previous criminal record. It was made out to Mr M Francey.

Francey, of Yeaman Place, admitted attempting to obtain 8975 by fraud at the Bank of Scotland in Crieff, Perthshire, on April 22 last year. Sheriff William Summers imposed 190 hours of community service.