FORMER Geordie Shore star James ‘Jay’ Gardner has appeared at court after being arrested at his home in Newcastle.

Mr Gardner appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 6 where he pleaded not guilty to one charge of conspiring with two other men to have in his custody counterfeit £20 and £50 notes and intending to pass them as genuine.

The offence is alleged to have taken place between December 13 last year and January 29 this year.

The Northern Echo understands that the arrest follows an investigation carried out by the Metropolitan Police in London.

Mr Gardner featured in a total of 33 episodes of MTV's North-East based reality TV show which launched in 2011.

The 33-year-old, of The Meadows, in Burnopfield, Newcastle, is set to go on trial at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday, April 14.