Fine for dud cash

She handed over a fake $100 note to buy a few items then happily took the $68 in change.

Restall, known to police for her previous offending, claimed she didn’t know the note was counterfeit.

Restall’s “extensive criminal record, which included fraud and other deception matters, was put before Albury Local Court this week.

Restall, 38, of Webb Street, Lavington, pleaded guilty to using a false document to obtain financial advantage and utter counterfeit money knowing it to be counterfeit.

The court was told this week that Restall entered the Salvation Army Family Store in Mate Street, North Albury, on July 14 about 2.30pm.

Restall looked around for about 15 minutes then approached the counter and bought several items, including two T-shirts and a candle holder, for $32.

She handed over the $100 dud note, got her change and left the store, a witness later describing seeing her get into a car wearing the blue wig.

The store worker then realised the note she was given by Restall was counterfeit and so told her manager, who in turn warned other charities about the fact someone was using counterfeit $100 notes.

About 3pm, Restall was with another woman when they went to the Hungry Jacks restaurant in David Street to buy food with another $100 note, but a staff  realised it was fake and so refused to accept it.

A short time later Restall tried to get change for the note at Lifeline in Wilson Street, but again this was thwarted.

They then walked through the Myer Centrepoint arcade and used the note to buy a cake and a bottle of soft drink from a bakery for $8.20, the sales assistant handing $91.80 in change to Restall.

But the bakery manager suspected something was wrong so took the note to a Hume Bank branch, where it was confirmed a fake.

He then got the change back from Restall after finding her sitting outside.

Restall was convicted and fined $400 and ordered to pay $100 compensation.