Fake note fails to save dishonest farmer

Matthew Brown: jailed

A MAN who attempted to fool police with bogus paperwork after they tracked stolen machinery to his farm has been jailed.

Matthew Brown (41) pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to handling stolen machinery and two counts of money-laundering. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

In June last year, a £7,200 mini-digger was stolen from a compound in Barnsley and within 48 hours its tracking device led police to Brown’s Carr Farm in Milnrow. The digger was aleady being stripped down and repainted.

When asked for proof of purchase, Brown produced a torn envelope with the words “Matthew Brown paid £3,500 for Kubota 1.5 ton digger to Mr Smith, thanks” scribbled on it. Suspecting it was fake, police arrested him.

A search later revealed a dumper truck with falsified ID plates.