Police officers who stopped a car in Ipswich found nine counterfeit banknotes hidden under a gearstick cover, a court has heard.
The notes were discovered after the driver deliberately spilt coffee over the gearstick in a bid to destroy them, Ipswich Crown Court was told.
A number of uneaten fast food meals and toothbrushes were found in the car which were likely to have been small purchases made to get change from counterfeit notes, said Francis Gaskin, prosecuting.
He said that when the driver, 37-year-old Patrick Collins, was searched he had a number of £10 and £5 notes in his wallet, some of which were likely to have been given to him as change from the notes, said Mr Gaskin.
Collins, of Blackburn, admitted possessing counterfeit notes with intent to pass them as genuine on February 23 and was jailed for 18 months.
Scott James-Smith for Collins said his client had committed the offence after getting into debt with a loan shark who was making threats against his family.
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