Joly in action

When police arrived, they believed they were dealing with an armed robbery - but later the threesome were charged with public order offences.

All three have pleaded guilty to the charges at Southend Magistrates Court, and 23-year-old Paul Booth, from nearby Westcliffe, was fined �100 by the court.

Two teenagers will be sentenced next month.

Outside the court, Mr Booth told reporters he was a fan of Trigger Happy TV and its host, Dom Joly.

The series, which made its debut on Channel 4 last year, features Joly conning celebrities and the public with surreal stunts - such as Joly bellowing into an outsized mobile phone, while walking past famous landmarks.

A new series is currently running on Channel 4's new digital service E4.