And finally… real becomes not-real where the unreal’s real

“Inspector” Lei had a collection of stun guns in his office as well as handcuffs and a siren on his car The Guardian reports.

Tang Hui, a real officer, who was given the job of investigating Mr Lei said: “With his disguise he was very deceptive.”

The fake copper used his status to make money. He sold forged Public Security Bureau documents as well as warrants from his “precinct” – which doubled up as his flat.

He was exposed after a friend of his girlfriend warned her about him.

According to the Chutian Metropolis Daily newspaper, the friend said: “Your boyfriend is not reliable.

“He always flirts with us online and is a total scoundrel.”

But his girlfriend, Tingting, only acted last week, threatening to leave him.

Infuriated at this prospect, Mr Lei told her he would post a video online of the pair having sex. In response she contacted the police and Mr Lei was caught.

While searching his flat, the real police found forged documents as well as a surveillance camera and GPS device.

In addition they found a copy of The Story of the Stone, an 18th century Chinese book whose opening line reads: “Truth becomes fiction when the fiction’s true, real becomes not-real where the unreal’s real.”