Latest news with #PatrickWard
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Irish Post
Co. Galway pair jailed over counterfeit cash scam across England as warrant issued for third man
TWO men from Co. Galway have been jailed over their role in a counterfeit cash scam carried out across England. Patrick Ward, 22, of Coole Park, Galway, and Jason Ward, 19, of Radharc Na Freine, Galway, have been jailed for 30 months and 28 months rerspectively. The latter will serve his sentence in a young offender institution. Meanwhile, a warrant has been issued for a third man from Galway who failed to appear in court. "The defendants came to the UK from Ireland with a view to using fake cash to fund their lifestyles, and it is right that they have been successfully prosecuted for their offending," said Detective Sergeant Craig Twycross from West Yorkshire Police. The two men were arrested on January 21, 2025 after officers stopped a car in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Inside the vehicle, officers found items that had been bought from various stores in Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield and Chesterfield using counterfeit Scottish bank notes. As part of a scam, items bought with the fake money were then returned to other store branches and refunded with genuine cash. Warrant Further offences linked to the group were identified in the Thames Valley, West Midlands, West Mercia, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire police force areas. Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to have custody or control of a thing knowing it was a counterfeit currency note, passing counterfeit currency and converting criminal property. They were sentenced on Friday, May 23 at Leeds Crown Court. A third man, 19-year-old William Browne of St Finbars Terrace, Galway, was also charged but failed to appear at court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. "This was a complex investigation which has prevented fake notes circulating around the country and leaving businesses with worthless cash," said DS Twycross. He added: "I want to urge retailers to be vigilant and take the time to check notes thoroughly. "Anyone who notices incidents involving these fake Scottish notes should report them to your local police force." See More: Galway, Wakefield, Yorkshire
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Two Galway men jailed for spending fake Scottish notes across UK
Patrick Ward (22) of Coole Park, and Jason Ward (19) of Radharc Na Freine had been arrested on January 21 after police stopped a car in Wakefield Two Galway men who came to the UK from Ireland 'with a view to using fake cash to fund their lifestyles' have been jailed. Patrick Ward (22) of Coole Park, and Jason Ward (19) of Radharc Na Freine had been arrested on January 21 after police stopped a car in Wakefield. Following a search, officers found items that had been bought from various stores in Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield and Chesterfield. A subsequent investigation established that counterfeit Clydesdale bank notes had been used to purchase items that were then refunded for cash at other branches. Jason Ward News in 90 Seconds - May 30th The investigation by Wakefield CID and backed up by the UK National Counterfeit Currency Unit (UKNCO) at the National Crime Agency (NCA), linked similar offences committed by the same gang in the Thames Valley, West Midlands, West Mercia, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire police force areas. Both men appeared at Leeds Crown Court having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to have custody or control of a thing knowing it was a counterfeit currency note, passing counterfeit currency and converting criminal property. Patrick Ward was sentenced to 30 months in prison while Jason Ward was given 28 months in a young offender institution. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a third man, William Browne (19) of St Finbars Terrace, Galway, who was also charged but failed to appear at court. Detective Sergeant Craig Twycross from Wakefield CID told the Barnsley Chronicle: 'This was a complex investigation which has prevented fake notes circulating around the country and leaving businesses with worthless cash. 'The defendants came to the UK from Ireland with a view to using fake cash to fund their lifestyles, and it is right that they have been successfully prosecuted for their offending. 'I want to urge retailers to be vigilant and take the time to check notes thoroughly. Anyone who notices incidents involving these fake Scottish notes should report them to your local police force.' Patrick Ward Neil Harris, Head of Unit at the National Counterfeit Currency Unit at the NCA said the suspects had committed crimes across numerous police force areas. 'However, with the participation of police officers from all of the identified policing areas, the full scale of the offending could be placed before the courts by West Yorkshire Police,' Harris said. 'The custodial sentences imposed demonstrate the seriousness with which counterfeit currency offences will be taken by the justice system and should act as a strong deterrent.' The NCA said counterfeit Clydesdale £20 notes may feature what looks like a convincing hologram. 'But staff should also check for the colour-changing ink used in the map of Scotland in the top left corner of the note,' he added. 'If the note is genuine, the map will change colour from purple to gold when the note is tilted, and there are also moving rings across the map. 'You can also feel for the raised print that appears across the note including on the name of the bank.' Police have urged anyone with information or incidents involving counterfeit notes to be reported to them on their LiveChat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Men jailed for using fake bank notes in shops across England
Two men who used fake Scottish bank notes to buy items in shops before returning the purchases for a cash refund have been Ward, 22, of Coole Park, Galway, Ireland, and Jason Ward, 20, of Radharc Na Freine, Galway, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to have a counterfeit currency note, passing counterfeit currency and converting criminal was sentenced to 30 months in prison, while Jason was sentenced to 28 months in a young offender institution on 23 May at Leeds Crown Court.A third man, William Browne, 19, of St Finbars Terrace, Galway, was also charged but failed to appear at court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest, West Yorkshire Police said. Patrick and Jason were arrested in Wakefield on 21 January after officers found items in their car that had been bought from various stores in Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield and said the pair had used counterfeit Clydesdale bank notes to buy the items and then refunded them for cash at other branches of the said further offences linked to the group were found in the Thames Valley, West Midlands, West Mercia, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire police force areas. Det Sgt Craig Twycross said: "This was a complex investigation which has prevented fake notes circulating around the country and leaving businesses with worthless cash."He said the pair "came to the UK from Ireland with a view to using fake cash to fund their lifestyles, and it is right that they have been successfully prosecuted for their offending".Neil Harris, head of the national counterfeit currency unit at the National Crime Agency said: "This investigation targeted a criminal enterprise where the suspects committed crimes across numerous police force areas. "However, with the participation of police officers from all of the identified policing areas, the full scale of the offending could be placed before the courts by West Yorkshire Police." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
