Britain’s brand new £5 notes have landed and everyone is very excited.
The brand spanking new fivers are supposedly cleaner, stronger and safer than its predecessor.
So obviously the first thing everyone’s doing when they get their hands on them is trying to fuck them up by any means possible.
Let’s face it – we want to know just how tough they are compared to the old fashioned ones.
That goes for journalist Piers Morgan who seemed pretty keen to test the durability of the new notes live on Good Morning Britain.
He was tasked with sticking one of the new plastic notes through a washing machine to see what happened…but before he even got there he couldn’t resist destroying one.
https://youtu.be/nNSDtWWSVws
Celebrity Arsenal fan Morgan tried ripping the note with his hands but when that failed he sank his teeth into it, triumphantly tearing it up much to the dismay of his co-hosts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymrKxu3tT0Q
Morgan destroying money left, right and centre got people wondering whether it was actually illegal.
Certainly Sir Alan Sugar was asking questions…
I was always told that tearing paper money was in fact illegal. Is @piersmorgan guilty of a crime live on @GMB . Hmm lock him up
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) September 13, 2016
As was everyone else on Twitter who was watching the show…
https://twitter.com/bradp94/status/775577735330693122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Unfortunately the almost indestructible new £5 note is not strong enough to withstand @piersmorgan's teeth… @GMB pic.twitter.com/QfvNKOsiRw
— Charlotte Hawkins (@CharlotteHawkns) September 13, 2016
Is it actually illegal to destroy a banknote? Just a thought… 😉 @GMB @piersmorgan @susannareid100
— Charlotte Hawkins (@CharlotteHawkns) September 13, 2016
@piersmorgan you are not supposed to deface anything with the Queen's head. It's illegal, I believe #GMB #buffoon
— Dr Fi Williams FRSA (@Dr_Fi_Williams) September 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/herrgorman/status/775620784828145664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
@piersmorgan Its not illegal to destroy money, however, it IS illegal to deface a banknote by printing, stamping or writing on it
— Geoffrey Christian (@geoff_wiv_a_g) September 13, 2016
The Bank of England says that ‘Under the Currency & Banknotes Act 1928 it is illegal to deface our banknotes (by printing, writing or impressing upon them words, letters or figures, etc.), although the question of whether or not to prosecute in individual cases is up to the police and the courts.’
Morgan had this response though…
To appease those offended by me eating two £5 notes on @GMB, I will donate £10 to charity.
In fact £20, because I may eat 2 more tomorrow.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 13, 2016
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