The police awarded a father of four named Brett Chamberlain £5,000 in damages after he was probed for paying for gas with a commemorative coin, TheSun.co.uk reported.
In July of last year, Brett Chamberlain filled up his tank at a Tesco station in Exeter and paid the £60 cost with a £100 coin.
However, workers threw him out after accusing him of fleeing without paying for the fuel.
He is 54 years old.
He was then taken to a police station and “interrogated.”
However, due to a 1971 Act, the Trafalgar Square special edition, which was coined in 2016, is the legal currency.
Brett, a father of four, intends to use the bonus money to buy more coins.
After filling his car with £60 of diesel at a Tesco Extra in Exeter in July last year, he was accused of fleeing without paying.
Cops released him on the condition that he be investigated, but then wrote him a letter stating that he would not be charged.
He filed a lawsuit and was served with a notice of damages this month.
According to the carpenter from Tiverton, Devon, “They interrogated me.”
“They wanted to prosecute me for using Royal Mint coins.”
“You couldn’t make it up. I was trying to spend money like any other citizen. I always use the coins to buy my fuel.”
“Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury’s have taken them but Tesco are always difficult.”
Large-denomination coins are not required to be accepted by shops or banks.
Tesco has stated that commemorative coins will not be accepted since they are not considered circulating legal money.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the incident and said, “We have taken steps to recognise and rectify the issues raised in this case.”
Source: 101Biography
