A TRAVEL agent told a court that Euros’ exchanged by David Ryan were ‘discoloured’ and ‘crispy’ as though they had been washed and artificially dried.

Craig Weatherill, who works at Admiral Travel in Altrincham, told the jury at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, June 20, that Ryan had visited the branch on Moss Lane on August 29 where he exchanged €420 Euros.

Mr Weatherill told the court Ryan had visited the branch on several occasions over a period of six to seven years when he would engage in conversation with or enquire about holidays. The court heard how Ryan would book holidays but then, 12 weeks before he was due to go away, would cancel due to a lack of funds.

Mr Weatherill told the court that Ryan had not bought the Euros from the store and when asked where he had got them, Ryan said they were left over from a trip to Germany.

He told Mr Weatherill that he had forgotten about them and found them in a drawer.

“The notes were discoloured and looked purple and red. They looked as if they had been soaked in water and dried on a radiator. When he gave me the notes I asked him where they had been and he said he had found them in a drawer. They were crispy and distorted. Initially I put them in a separate compartment in the drawer as I didn’t want to give them to customers but then someone wanted a large amount so I gave them out.”

Mr Weatherill told the court that the Euros exchanged by Ryan – which he recalled were five, 10 and 20 Euro notes, had completely gone by the end of August 30. David Ryan denies murdering Diana Lee.