In his suit and working as a  banker by day, this man looks an unlikely superhero - but by night, he  becomes 'The Statesmen' and fights crime on Britain's streets. 
Dressed  in a Union Flag T-shirt and with a black Zorro-style mask covering his  eyes, he claims even his girlfriend is in the dark about his nocturnal  activities - which is hard to believe, especially given his distinctive  facial hair.
He tells  her he is out playing poker on the four nights a week when he is trying  to keep an eye on the underbelly of Birmingham. 
 
  
 Crime fighter: The anonymous Briton is a banker by day and then becomes The Statesman at night
The Briton is the latest to follow in the footsteps of the hit film Kick Ass, in which a teenage geek dresses as a superhero but ends up way over his head.
Last  month, it emerged Phoenix Jones from the U.S. had been dubbed the  real-life Kick Ass after appointing himself as masked guardian of a  Seattle suburb.
His  British counterpart's outfit compares somewhat unfavourably with the  American's but he claims to have foiled a drug dealer and prevented  burglaries.
The former  soldier in the Territorial Army, who wears a black mask, utility belt,  Union Flag top, fingerless gloves, combat trousers and military boots,  uses his skills as a trained pugilist.
And  he shirks cutting-edge gadgets for a first aid kit, a torch to startle  burglars and a notepad for writing down important information. A cheap  mobile phone in case he needs to call support of the police completes  his arsenal.
 
 On the lookout: The 'superhero' looks over the streets of Birmingham
 
 Low-tech: His toolkit includes a notebook, torch (to startle burglars), first aid kit and a cheap mobile phone
He said: 'I work for a large bank  dealing with savings and investments. All day I look at numbers and  percentages and work out how to make people richer.   
'It's not a popular occupation but I like to think I make up for this by  going out at night and trying to do something to help everybody.' 
His  alter-ego sees him breaking up fights, stopping would-be burglars and  feeding homeless people and he claims he sometimes teams up with three  other superheroes to work together. 
To keep attention off them, they hide their costumes under dark overcoats and burst out when their help is required.
He claims they helped Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to capture a drug dealer.   
'We  were patrolling London together at 3am one night and heard a commotion.  We saw a huge guy running across Trafalgar Square away from two PCSOs.
 
 Neighbourhood watch: The vigilante chats to a homeless man
'They were shouting at him but he  wasn't going to stop so we threw off our overcoats and chased him. We  caught up with him and pinned him down until the officers arrived.
'They told us he had jumped bail and they had seen him throwing away packets of drugs as he ran from them.  
'That was the first time what I do really felt justified. The police wagon  turned up and took him away and it felt good. The PCSOs thought it was  great. They loved it.' 
Patrolling several times a week means The Statesman has to work hard to keep his secret safe from loved ones.
With  my girlfriend, it helps that I have a lot of hobbies. I say I'm playing  late-night poker matches with friends or watching a pay-per-view  sports,' he said. 
 
 Aaron Johnson as Kick Ass in the movie
When things turn violent on patrol,  The Statesman is well prepared. 'I've been boxing since I was 11 and I'm  still training,' he said. 'It helps me to judge things and be  reasonable.'  
His  first 'incident' on patrol came in April 2010 when he found two men  trying to break into a builder's merchants late at night.
He  said: 'It's why I always carry a torch with me. People doing bad things  don't want to be seen and if you shine a good torch right at them and  shout in a strong voice, it's enough to stop them. As soon as I did it  these two men simply ran away.' 
He  begins his Nightwatch at 7pm, after eating a good meal to keep him  going. 'I look at a map and just say "I want to make that area safe  tonight",' he said.
'While  I am over that area, nothing bad is going to happen. You can't change  the entire city, but you can make one small part of it better each  night. Even if it's just for one or two people, then that's a win.'
Explaining  his superhero name, he said: 'A Statesman is an ambassador, a diplomat  and somebody who delivers a message. Something that's meaningful and  positive, and that's something I feel that represents what I do.
'I  want to do something that's positive for the country. I hope some  people will look at me and want to do it themselves. If it's just one  person then it's a success. As long as I'm achieving anything, I will  keep doing this.' 
West Midlands Police refused to comment.
 
 Last month, it emerged Phoenix Jones from the U.S. had been dubbed the real-life Kick Ass after appointing himself as masked guardian of a Seattle suburb
 
