HE may have looked the part of an officer, but he was certainly no gentleman.

And parading like Richard Gere past the fancy dress shop where he had allegedly stolen an immaculate white US navy suit must rank him as one of the silliest criminals of the season.

Fancy dress shop proprietor Donna Darwin, who spotted the imposter sauntering down the road with bottle of wine, called the police - who had absolutely no problem picking the suspect out from the crowd.

Mrs Darwin, 45, said: "The absolute bare-faced cheek of it. I just can't believe it.

"Not only to steal my costume but then to walk past as though nothing has happened."

Mrs Darwin, of D 'n' A fancy dress, in Front Street, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, said that four young boys and a girl had come into her shop at lunchtime on Tuesday.

She said: "They were messing around and trying on the various costumes we have, including a gorilla suit. I had a big group of children coming around and so asked them to leave the shop. I managed to get them out and felt quite relieved."

Mrs Darwin thought nothing further of it until three hours later when she happened to look out of her first-floor window.

She said: "The next thing this lad waltzed out from the amusement park opposite the road dressed in a sea captain's outfit with a wine bottle in his hand.

"He looked all the part like Richard Gere from the film An Officer and a Gentleman.

"I realised I had a costume like that - and sure enough established mine was missing.

"He walked past the front of my shop and sauntered down the street. The cheeky little so-and-so."

Mrs Darwin alerted police and trailed the teenager to make sure he did not escape. The police arrived and the teenager was questioned.

Mrs Darwin said: "We have been missing a number of costumes, including a kilt and waistcoat and a cowboy outfit. When the police searched his house they found the kilt."

Chester-le-Street Community Inspector Paul Anderson confirmed police were investigating.

He said: "Obviously the way he was dressed he was easily identifiable. You don't get many people walking down Front Street in Chester-le-Street in a sailor's suit."

He confirmed that the teenager's home had been searched and further items found. He was released on police bail pending further inquiries.