Vigilant shopkeepers at two Grantham stores foiled a Northampton man trying to pay for goods with a forged £20 note.
Ian Clement, of Waingrove, Northampton, admitted two charges of using counterfeit money after he was arrested in Grantham on January 31.
Clement, 29, first walked into Costcutter in Springfield Road and attempted to pay for goods with the note. However, the cashier immediately realised the money was not genuine and refused the sale, handing Clement back the note.
Clement then went into Tuffies in Westgate where his ruse was again spotted by an eagle-eyed shopassistant. This time the police were called and Clement was arrested.
Daniel Paulson, prosecuting, said: “In interview Clement said he had been given three fake notes by a friend who he had sold a television to.
“He threw two away but kept the third. He knew he should have handed it in but did not.”
Magistrates decided the case was too serious and so sent it to Lincoln Crown Court.
Clement was given bail.