Man in court after taking replica firearm into Newcastle station

A joker who donned a balaclava and walked through a Tyne & Wear Metro station brandishing a fake gun has been given a criminal record for his "act of stupidity".

Student Kevin Ditshego-Taiwo, 22, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for his behaviour in Newcastle on January 10 this year.

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

Officers confronted him and he admitted it was a plastic gun he had been using to prank his friends as they left the Metro.

He also said 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.

Ditshego-Taiwo, of Malton Crescent, North Shields was arrested and later charged with possession of an imitation firearm in a public place.

He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday after admitting the crime at an earlier hearing.

The judge condemned  Ditshego-Taiwo's actions but he avoided a prison sentence. Instead he was handed a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a £90 victim surcharge.

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.

DS Atherton also described the act of carrying firearms into a station as "incomprehensible" and pointed out it could have provokes a much bigger police response. He also praised neighbourhood officers for dealing with the incident so quickly.

Police advice is that anyone who spots someone carrying a firearm, or acting suspiciously, should contact police immediately - 999 in an emergency or 101 at other times.

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