A MAN produced copies of an image of a £10 note, downloaded from a computer website devoted to pop star Britney Spears, a court was told.

Police executing a warrant, recovered 15 counterfeit notes hidden in a sunbed at the home of Jason Young, 24, in Barmston Centre, Washington.

Durham Crown Court was told that sheets of A3 paper, computer discs, a printer, scanner, guillotine and ink cartridges were also seized.

Roger Elsey, prosecuting, said, when interviewed, Young told police he was surprised to find the image of a £10 note on a Britney Spears' website, rather than the singing star.

Ron Mitchell, defending, said Young downloaded the images from the Internet, but there was no evidence to say he had any intention of putting them into circulation.

Young admitted making a counterfeit £10 note without lawful authority, and having control of counterfeit currency.

Judge David Wood accepted it was "not a professional attempt", but said the notes produced were capable of being passed in the dark at premises such as nightclubs.

He said had he suspected any attempt was to have been made to pass the notes, he would have jailed him.

Instead, Judge Wood imposed a two-year conditional discharge, but ordered all the computer equipment seized to be forfeited