Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the Newport vigilante ninja

In his mind, Tanis Baker was a vigilante ninja striking fear into criminals like his favourite superheroes. In reality, the 21 year-old's efforts at fighting crime were more comic farce than comic book.

Patrolling his neighbourhood dressed in a black martial arts costume and balaclava, it was he who ended up on the wrong side of the law.

The self-styled "eyes and ears" of right-thinking people was arrested for possession of a wooden sword.

Yesterday (Monday), the mild-mannered comic book fan told a court that he turned to crime-fighting after being mugged by a local gang and bullied at school. Frustrated that his assailants got away, he made himself a costume complete with body armour and armed himself with smoke bombs and a home-made Samurai sword. In an imitation of the film Kick-Ass, he then went out looking for troublemakers in Newport, South Wales.

The vigilante, who by day was a barman at a snooker hall, would crouch in the darkness of a park ready to pounce.

Locals said his heroic deeds included taking alcohol off under-age drinkers and "smoking out" any loitering gangs using smoke grenades.

James Higgins, 17, who went to school with Baker, said he had seen him on the roof of Ringland library. "The figure leapt from the building and landed on the sports field at the back," he said. "He was running across it and doing roly polys. He's been watching too many films."

Baker's crime-fighting days were cut short in September when he was seen by a policeman. Believing he was carrying a real Samurai sword, the officer called for back-up and the police helicopter and a dog handler were scrambled.

Baker fled into Beechwood park and hid in bushes near a children's play area. He was arrested and led officers to a spot where he had hidden two rucksacks, one containing clothes and the other seven smoke grenades. He told officers he was a "vigilante in a costume" and the "eyes and ears" of the police on the streets. The probation officer who assessed him said Baker was a fan of American comic book superheroes. His report said: "He seems to get confused between fantasy and reality and sometimes had trouble distinguishing between what was in comic books and what was real life."

Louise Warren, defending, said: "Baker was bullied for many years and struggled growing up in his neighbourhood.

"He was attacked by a gang of youths while out with his sister a year ago, but police were unable to find the offenders.

"Since then Baker has wanted to help the police to protect society."

Baker was asked what he would do if he encountered a real crime and said he had not thought that far ahead.

Baker was given a 12-month supervision order and told to carry out 60 hours' unpaid work. While his crime-fighting days may be over, residents claimed he had two sidekicks, the Alway Assassin and the St Julians Saboteur.