Shopkeepers across Burnley began receiving counterfeit sovereigns.

The coins were exceptionally convincing.

Cryer noticed that every false piece carried a tiny flaw beside the monarch's portrait.

The flaw matched a damaged engraving tool.

He traced it to a retired jeweller who had sold his equipment to a travelling fair.

Inside a concealed wagon compartment, police found moulds, metal and hundreds of unfinished coins.

The counterfeiter had been changing towns every week.

His only mistake was believing nobody would inspect the coins closely enough.