A fake policeman tried to "arrest" a lone woman only to flee when she questioned his credentials.
In a case that bares grim similarities to that of Wayne Couzens, Gary Shepherd falsely identified himself as an officer after approaching a female in a Barrow car park, in Cumbria.
On October 5 the 44-year-old was wearing a blue lanyard around his neck with 'POLICE' written on it and told the shocked lone female: "I'm arresting you for drug dealing."
Luckily the quick-thinking woman queried his credentials and called over a passerby.
When they both challenged Shepherd he ran away, Barrow Magistrates' Court heard.
On Thursday morning before Justices of the peace, Shepherd was jailed for 22 weeks after admitted impersonating a police officer and common assault.
He was also fined £85 and ordered to pay costs of £128.
Superintendent Matt Pearman, of Cumbria Police, said: "Whilst this matter has been dealt with swiftly, it does not change the fact that this is a gravely concerning incident.
"To be approached in this way by someone falsely claiming to be a police officer must have been extremely frightening for the victim, particularly coming so soon after the sentencing of Wayne Couzens last week.
"Our officers recognised the seriousness of this incident swiftly and were able to quickly arrest Shepherd, who, less than 48 hours after the initial incident, is now starting a significant prison sentence.
"As well as thanking the victim and the eye-witness, we would like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and the court for the swift manner in which the matter has been dealt with."
Superintendent Pearman had been referring to the death of marketing executive Sarah Everard at the hands of Couzens.
The 33-year-old had been walking home from a friend's house in Clapham, south London, on 3 March when she was abducted by the Met Police officer, who arrested her under false pretences.
Shepherd had approached his frightened victim as she walked to her car in Greengate car park in Barrow, shortly after 6.30pm on Tuesday evening.
When he was caught after fleeing he initially denied being in the area or committing any offences.
However, in his second interview, officers were able to produce evidence showing that he was not telling the truth, at which point Shepherd claimed his actions had been a "joke".
Shepherd has a four week suspended sentence hanging over his head from August this year, after he threatened to kill two brothers in a street row while armed with a piece of wood.
Shepherd had a long-term dispute with David and Alan Harris and a chance meeting at a Barrow pub saw him shout at them: "I'm going to kill you."
He was spared jail after pleading guilty to a public order offence committed on June 18 at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.
The court was told Shepherd, had been in a relationship with one of the brothers' daughters.
