A COLLECTOR nicked for using a £100 commemorative coin to buy fuel has won a £5,000 payout from cops.
Brett Chamberlain, 54, was thrown out by staff who said it wasn’t real money.
He was then “interrogated” at a police station.
But the Trafalgar Square special edition, with 45,000 minted in 2016, is legal tender under a 1971 Act.
Dad-of-four Brett plans to spend the compo on more coins.
He was accused of making off without payment after filling his car with £60 of diesel at a Tesco Extra in Exeter in July last year.
Cops released him under investigation but later sent a letter to say he would not be charged.
He took legal action and received notice of damages this month.
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The carpenter, of Tiverton, Devon, said: “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.”
Shops and banks do not have to accept the large denomination coins.
Rare coins and valuable notes - is yours worth a mint?
Tesco said it will not accept commemorative coins as it is not considered to be circulating legal tender.
Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We have taken steps to recognise and rectify the issues raised in this case.”
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