A brazen contractor pretended to be a policeman after he was caught driving without a seatbelt.
Ryan Haughton, 30, tried to dupe police by telling them he had been working for the force for six years, Teesside Live reports.
He even showed officers pictures of himself in uniform but his lies unravelled when police checked out his claim.
Officers discovered that although he was previously a special constable, he had resigned more than two years earlier in 2018.
Haughton told Teesside Magistrates' Court that he had made a 'silly' mistake after pleading guilty to impersonating a police constable.
He was stopped by North Yorkshire Police on the A19 in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.
Joanne Hesse, prosecuting, said: "He shows several photographs of himself in a police uniform."
However, police found out he was lying after checking his claim.
Ms Hesse told the court that Haughton apparently thought he was still a special constable because he had not had any update from North Yorkshire Police.
The court heard how the offence took place while Haughton was driving a Fiat Punto on September 24 last year.
He was also found to be driving the vehicle without any insurance.
Haughton, of Osprey Close, Stockton, pleaded guilty to impersonating a police constable.
He also admitted using a motor vehicle on a road / public place without third party insurance and driving on a road a motor vehicle whilst not wearing a seat belt.
Alex Bousfield, defending, told the court how Haughton had tried to take himself out of the situation and it spiralled.
He said: "It's a one-off offence.
"It's very foolish but not much more than that.
"No one has been harmed, no one has been put to a disadvantage.
"He's lost his good character and he's been employed in public service in the past, it's perhaps to his credit.
"He shouldn't have tried to take advantage of it now."
The court heard how Haughton had taken up a role as a contractor but was currently out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Chair of the bench, Michelle Matthews, told Haughton: "You pleaded guilty to the three offences at the first opportunity and we are going to give you credit for that.
"Bearing in mind you have at some point been a special constable and now you have used such a silly exercise.
"You're of previous good character and you're going to have a criminal record.
"I think you know yourself how foolish you have been."
Haughton replied: "Well it was silly, there's no other way around that."
Magistrates fined him £120 for impersonating a police officer and £120 for driving with no insurance.
He received six points on his licence and no separate penalty for driving without a seat belt.
Haughton was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £34 surcharge.
