A 27-YEAR-OLD Mottingham man was found guilty of possessing hundreds of pounds of counterfeit cash.

Police found a wad of fake £20 Scottish notes on Kamram Bessim, of Kersey Gardens, after he was stopped in the early hours of the morning in Penge.

Croydon Crown Court heard he claimed he had just sold a gold chain to someone in a pub.

Sgt Stephen Cape said he saw two men walking along Oakfield Road. One of them jumped over a garden fence and ran off when he saw them. He added: "We went over to the other man and searched him. We found a plastic bag containing £420."

When the notes were checked, it was found many of them had the same serial number. When questioned, Bessim said: "They look fine to me."

Bessim told the court he had been in the Goldsmith's Arms, in Penge, that night and found someone interested in buying the chain from him.

He claimed he had no idea the money was fake and had accepted it from the man, who he knew as Danny, in good faith. Bessim was remanded in custody until January 11 for sentencing.

December 19, 2001 12:00