A brazen man pulled out an imitation gun in Wembley police station and threatened "to kill someone".
Ricardas Balsevicus, 31, of Roxborough Road, Harrow, walked up to the front counter on February 26 in the building in Harrow Road and asked an officer for directions.
The Metropolitan Police said he became aggressive when asked if she needed help and pulled the firearm out of his bag.
In what police described as a "terrifying experience" he pointed the weapon at the shocked female officer before being arrested after she called for assistance.
At Harrow Crown Court on Tuesday (April 7), Balsevicus pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.
Balsevicus was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 300 hours of community service.
Speaking after the court hearing, detective constable Graeme Cawsey said: "Being threatened with an imitation firearm is a terrifying experience for any person, as you cannot tell at a glance whether it is real or not.
"This offence is particularly galling as the station officer was trying to assist and help the man at the time.
“Firearms, whether they are imitations or not, can be frightening; and this sentence should demonstrate the determination of police to bring to justice those who use any type of firearm to commit crime."
Balsevicus must pay £385 in costs and compensation.
The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the imitation firearm.
