Police seized an American 'muscle car' which had been revving its engine driving around the city - after discovering the driver wasn't insured.
After stopping the matt black Dodge Challenger on Deansgate, traffic cops couldn't help noticing the vehicle looked a bit like the Batmobile, the car driven by superhero Batman in comic books and films.
"Not all superheroes wear capes," Greater Manchester Police posted from its main Twitter account.
READ MORE: Partners in life and crime: the couple's who broke the law together
The car stopped on Saturday night is just the latest in a series of supercars traffic police have pulled up for a variety of motoring offences, particularly on Deansgate which has become something of a magnet for petrolheads wanting to show off.
But the parade of loud, expensive cars can also be irritating, not to mention antisocial, for people who live and work in the city centre.
Tweeting about the latest incident, GMP Traffic embraced the Batman conceit wholeheartedly when it tweeted: "#GMPTraffic saw this Batman Wannabee over revving his engine whilst driving round the city tonight.
"However, Alfred forget to insure the fake Dark Knight's ride, so we did the Joker a favour and seized the Batmobile. 'KA-POW 'he's now on the bus back to Wayne Manor."
The Batman comparison was enthusiastically embraced by GMP's main Twitter account, which re-tweeted the message with these words for its 610,000 followers: "Not all heroes wear capes…they wear hi vis jackets instead
"A night shift well spent in Gotham…sorry, Manchester City Centre this weekend. #WeWillTakeItFromHereBatman."
In December, the M.E.N. reported an Audi R8 was seized after driving 'antisocially' on Deansgate in front of police officers.
Councillors have previously condemned 'man boy racers' who regularly cause noise chaos along Deansgate and adjoining Peter Street on weekends.
City centre spokesperson councillor Pat Karney previously called on specialist noise detecting traffic cameras to be introduced in Manchester to tackle the problem and catch motorists - as the trials were rolled out elsewhere, such as in Bristol, Birmingham and Bradford.
He told of how those living in city centre apartments close to Deansgate were constantly disturbed by the noise, particularly on weekends and in the early hours, and that their 'lives are being made into a misery' by the 'absolute idiots'.
Coun Karney said: "For people who live in the area, they are plagued by supercars racing up and down Deansgate, Peter Street and Quay Street. They go around at 2 or 3 in the morning, particularly on weekends."
Sign up to our courts newsletter to get the latest updates to your inbox
READ NEXT :
- The Greater Manchester criminals who avoided jail by a whisker
-
The Greater Manchester criminals so dangerous they've been jailed for the public protection
- 'I stole a bra because I was lonely': The LUDICROUS excuses given to judges by criminals in court
- Five people banned from Manchester city centre, the reasons why and what to do if you see them
- Nine violent women whose crimes shocked the courts
