Simon Davey, 29, from Hailsham in Sussex, had climbed through a window of his local station to report himself for not paying a taxi fare.

His strange behaviour may be explained by his consumption of 10 pints of beer at a darts tournament that evening.

Dressed in police uniform he greeted a special constable with "evenin' all", before he was arrested.

The whole story was too much for the jury at Lewes Crown Court, before court staff and even the police joined in the laughter.

The judge later decided the case was not in the public interest and returned a verdict of not guilty.

Toilet window

The unusual evening began in Eastbourne in February, with Davey drinking 10 pints at the darts tournament before his taxi ride home.

On his return to Hailsham he climbed through the toilet window of the police station to confess to his free journey.

When he could not find an officer, he decided to put on an inspector's hat and sergeant's jacket, and man the front desk.

He eventually encountered a special constable, who he greeted with a slurred delivery of the "evenin' all" phrase made famous in the TV drama Dixon of Dock Green.

At that point he was arrested, and found to be carrying telephone wire, part of a broken answering machine and some blank statement forms.

The court was told he knew his way around the station because he had previously attended a birthday celebration there for his uncle, who once worked there as a detective inspector.

Taped comedy

Tapes of an interview with the defendant were played to the jury.

But many of the group could not keep a straight face, and either became convulsed with giggles or simply roared with laughter.

Judge Richard Brown eventually halted the case and summoned barristers into his chambers.

He decided the prosecution was not in the public interest and a formal not guilty verdict was entered.

Davey, of Marshfoot Lane, Hailsham, was bound over to keep the peace for two years.

Judge Brown said there had been amusing aspects to the case but his conduct had been unacceptable and caused a great deal of inconvenience.