Did you hear the one about the Buddhist monk who tried to cash in fake chips at London’s casinos!

Pathun Sapumalbandara, of Letchford Gardens, Willesden, was caught carrying out a 'colour chip fraud' - gambler sneaks worthless plastic chips into a casino and tries to cash them in.

Sapumalbandaran, 31, was at the Palm Beach Casino, in Berkeley Street, Mayfair, on April 1, when he tried to cash £475 in fake chips, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Timothy Clark, prosecuting, said: "Casino employees spotted the scam and Sapumalbandaran was arrested while quickly leaving the establishment with the winnings."

Police searched Sapumalbandara's home and found a bag full of chips as well as a fake Italian passport, driving licence and three Sri Lankan passports in a false name.

Sapumalbandara was banned by several major UK casino chains, including the owners of the Palm Beach, from entering their premises, but had joined using a false name.

Sapumalbandara later pleaded guilty to fraud and two charges of possession of a forged document.

Gordon Shine, defending, said his client was a Buddhist monk who entered Britain legally, but used forged documents to give in to his gambling addiction.

He had invested money in a casino in Forest Gate, east London, but lost his stake and resorted to the chip scam, said Mr. Shine.

Judge James Wadsworth let Sapumalbandara walk free from court, but gave him an eight-month sentence suspended for two years on condition he does not enter bookmakers and casinos.

Other Casinos both in London claimed the monk had attempted the same scam at their premises and so they slapped a ban on the game gambler.

A beaming Sapumalbandara left court with a broad smile on his face obviously at peace with himself.