Three conspirators who printed £1 million in phoney currency have been jailed for a total of 16 years.

The fraudsters produced realistic-looking £10 and £20 notes from a computer and printer in a bedroom at a bungalow in Burgess Hill.

At Hove Crown Court yesterday, 48-year-old computer expert Peter Blackbourn, who lived at the bungalow, was sentenced to six years on two counts of conspiracy to produce counterfeit currency.

Raymond Berry, 56, of Guildford, also received six years and Brian Welstead, 59, of Middlesex, was given four years.

Berry, who suffers from a heart condition, collapsed as he was being led to the cells and some members of the jury wept.

They had spent more than 14 hours deliberating and, at one point, Judge Charles Kemp had to direct them to bring in majority verdicts.

Judge Kemp said: "Counterfeit and currency offences are regarded by these courts as very serious matters.

"You played for high stakes, each of you, and you lost."

To Blackbourn, who ran his own computer firm and previously worked as a consultant for the Ministry of Defence, the judge said: "It is nothing short of tragic that a man in your position in these circumstances should fall from grace so spectacularly. Your's was a crucial role in this enterprise. You had the computer know-how and expertise to produce these notes and allow your premises in Burgess Hill to be used as a factory."

Divorced Blackbourn was said to have been devastated by the break-up of his marriage.

After the hearing Berry was said to have recovered from his collapse after being given first aid by prison officers.

The court heard that his heart condition meant he had only a one-in-five chance of surviving to the end of his prison sentence.

In mitigation, the judge was told that Welstead had to care for his 34-year-old son who suffers with cerebral palsy, has the mind of a five-year-old and is registered blind.

Francis Donnelly, 48, from Watford, was found guilty of possessing of some of the trio's counterfeit currency. He will be sentenced later.