This is the moment a prankster wearing a pink balaclava walks through a Tyneside Metro station carrying a fake gun.
Kevin Ditshego-Taiwo was spotted wearing the distinctive head garment at West Jesmond, in Newcastle.
Passing police officers noticed he was holding what looked like a handgun, on January 10.
When confronted, the 22-year-old university student said it wasn't a real weapon and he was just intending to prank his friends as they left the Metro.
He also told police that he had been posing for pictures with the gun and balaclava to put on social media and to use in music videos he wanted to produce.
He was arrested by the neighbourhood officers and later charged with possession of an imitation firearm in a public place.
Ditshego-Taiwo, of Malton Crescent, North Shields, pleaded guilty to the offence and was given a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work at Newcastle Crown Court.
Following the case, Detective Sergeant Mark Atherton, of Northumbria Police, said he hoped the case would send a strong message to anyone else who thought carrying out a similar prank.
“This may have seemed like a harmless prank at the time but carrying an imitation firearm in public is no laughing matter,” said Sgt Atherton.
“He could have been jailed for this type of offence and it is absolutely right that an act of such stupidity should result in his arrest and appearance at court.
“Prior to his arrest he had already been showing off the gun on social media and the glamorisation of firearms is completely unacceptable.
“To then carry the gun into a busy Metro station in the middle of the day is almost incomprehensible and he could have sparked a huge policing response.
“Thankfully our neighbourhood officers were in the area and were able to quickly nip the incident in the bud before there was any real community tension.
“Ditshego-Taiwo will now have to contribute back to the community through unpaid work and I hope this the case sends a strong message to anyone who think this type of behaviour is acceptable.”
