Piers Morgan wrongly accused of breaking the law on live TV after ripping up five pound bank note

'You're going to jail for destroying money Piers'

Piers Morgan has proved his ability to whip up controversy time and time again but, for once at least, the reaction his decision to rip up money drew is misplaced.

The US editor-at-large for MailOnline and a presenter on ITV’s Good Morning Britain prompted uproar in the Twittersphere after he ripped a note in half while presenting GMB with co-host Susanna Reid on Tuesday morning.

Attempting to test out the strength of the Bank of England’s new plastic £5 notes, Morgan put the note in a washing machine but found it was left untarnished. He then attempted to rip the note with his hands before eventually opting for his teeth and causing it to rip.

“It’s like plastic Monopoly money, oh you can bite it in half,” Morgan announced as he brandished the ripped note.

Numerous Twitter users relished in pointing out what they thought was the illegality of his actions, with one social media user writing: “You're going to jail for destroying money Piers.”

But despite media reports the columnist had broken the law after tearing up a plastic £5 bank note on live television, the Bank of England told The Independent that ripping up money is not, in fact, illegal.

A spokeswoman for the Bank of England said it is only illegal to deface them.

“While it is not actually illegal to destroy a banknote, a totally destroyed banknote is unusable and therefore worthless. Partially damaged notes can be replaced by the Bank of England,” a spokeswoman said.

Under the Currency & Banknotes Act 1928 it is illegal to deface banknotes by printing, writing or impressing upon them words, letters or figures.

Cash machines across the UK started dispensing the first plastic £5 notes, which are designed to be safer and stronger, on Tuesday morning. The new polymer banknotes which feature Sir Winston Churchill are significantly more durable, cleaner and more difficult to counterfeit.