A FAKE police officer “stunk of alcohol” as he claimed to be searching for a “lost little boy”, a court heard.

Charlie Vaughan was caught flashing a torch at cars in Challenger Way, Dibden Purlieu.

He was trying to flag them down so he could find his “lost brother”, telling drivers he was a police officer.

The 22-year-old also had handcuffs, a police-style belt and two T-bars on him when he was arrested by a member of the public at approximately 10.30pm on December 30, 2016.

He was found guilty at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard how a car containing witness Demi Willington pulled over.

Miss Willington, a hairdresser who lived on Challenger Way, told the court Vaughan “stunk of alcohol” and that when he spoke to the vehicle’s driver, he said “a little boy on a bike” was lost.

She said: “He got out an ID card and Josh [the driver] nodded his head but he knew it was a fake.”

When Miss Willington got home she told her mother about the incident and she contacted her partner Kieron McCullie.

Mr McCullie then drove to the road where he was flagged down by Vaughan.

In a statement read to the court, Mr McCullie said Vaughan told him he was looking for his brother and when Mr McCullie apprehended him to call the police, the defendant screamed: “I’m going to do you for assault”.

Vaughan, represented by Stephen Tricker, told the court he had drunk a bottle of vodka and had been at a fancy dress party.

However, when questioned by Miss Angel, Vaughan admitted he was the only one dressed up at the party which he left to take a walk in the woods near Challenger Way.

Vaughan said: “The handcuffs were for personal use and in the bedroom.

"I had lost my bike that night and was asking people for help to find them.

"I didn’t say I was an officer.”

Vaughan, of Chapel Road, Southampton, was sentenced to a 12-month community order and three-month curfew. He was ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge.

Vaughan saw the Daily Echo photographer outside Southampton Magistrates’ Court and immediately started playing to the camera.

He made rude gestures, lifted up his T-shirt to show his stomach and took down his trousers to show his bottom.

But, turning nasty, he also walked towards our photographer, picking up a laughing gas canister and throwing it twice towards her, hitting her on the arm with the second throw.

The incident was reported to the police.