A PRANKSTER has been left with a criminal record after he walked through a Metro station wearing a balaclava and waving a fake gun.

Kevin Ditshego-Taiwo was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday for his behaviour in Newcastle on January 10.

The court was told how the university student was wearing a pink balaclava and carrying the imitation firearm by his side when he was spotted by police at West Jesmond Metro Station.

They immediately confronted the 22-year-old, at which point he confessed it was a plastic gun that he had been using 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.

But the joke was soon on him after 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, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday after admitting the offence at an earlier hearing.

The judge condemned his actions but the student avoided a prison sentence and was instead handed a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.

Following the case, Detective Sergeant Mark Atherton said he hoped the case would send a strong message to anyone else who thought carrying out a similar prank.

He said: “This may have seemed like a harmless prank at the time but carrying an imitation firearm in public is no laughing matter.“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.”

Ditshego-Taiwo was handed a 12-month community order, ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work and made to pay a £90 victim surcharge.

If you spot anyone carrying a firearm, or acting in a suspicious manner, then you should contact police immediately.

Always call 999 in an emergency or alternatively you can call 101 for a non-emergency.

You can also report information online at the Northumbria Police website or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.