A Sandys man was given nine months in prison to consider a $5,000 counterfeit money spree.

Dwayne Reid, 22, of Broome Street, was arrested after eight counterfeit $50 notes were found at his home.

Crown prosecutor Cindy Clarke told the Supreme Court court On Friday: ?On February 22, and as a result of information received, a search warrant was executed at 6 Broome Street, Sandys, the home address of the defendant.

?During the search, Police officers seized eight $50 notes all bearing identical serial numbers and one apparent $100 Bermuda note.?

Ms Clarke said Reid was arrested by members of the Fraud Unit and taken to the Hamilton Police Station.

?The money was examined by a Director of the Bermuda Monetary Authority, and each of the nine notes were identified as forgeries,? she said.

Reid told Police someone gave him $5,000 in counterfeit currency, which he passed throughout the Island. The $500 seized by Police was all that remained of the initial $5,000.

Ms Clarke told Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves that there had been a marked increase in the number of counterfeit notes passed in Bermuda in recent years.

She said: ?According to statistics compiled by the Bermuda Police Service, there have been 152 reported cases of counterfeit currency totally $18,395 circulating in Bermuda during the first nine months of this year.?

She asked the court to impose a sentence between six and nine months. Defence lawyer Craig Attridge said his client was of good character and had a bright future ahead of him. ?He has turned his life around and I ask the court to consider imposing a suspended prison sentence.

Mr. Greaves said possessing and passing counterfeit money around Bermuda were serious offences and said the public must have faith in the national currency, before sentencing Reid.