A police memorabilia obsessive who was caught by cops walking in a Streatham street dressed as a police officer – sporting a stab vest, handcuffs, CS gas and a fake gun – has been spared jail.

Marc Branch, 21, of Abercairn Road, Streatham, who was kicked out of the Metropolitan Police’s cadet scheme as a teenager, claimed he donned the gear to help police after seeing a gang of up to 12 youths set upon two 14-year-olds in his street.

He was found guilty on July 30 of having an imitation firearm in a public place.

At Inner London Crown Court on Monday he was handed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 40 hours of unpaid community work, and pay £800 court costs.

Branch claimed during his trial he went to help police on October 13, 2008, because he thought his “experience” in the cadets would assist, but said he needed the protection of his full anti-ballistic garment.

Branch said he “put on the stab vest to feel slightly more safe” and had forgotten he had the gun after “messing about with it” earlier in the day.

Branch was given the boot from the police cadet scheme after three years for a string of misdemeanours, including driving his friend’s car with a set of blue lights flashing.

He was based at Streatham and Gipsy Hill police stations.

The court heard Branch bought extensive amounts of police paraphernalia on the internet, including the clothing he was caught wearing.

The blank-firing imitation Glock pistol had cost him £150 online.