Police in Virginia were not joking around when they arrested a man for dressing up as comic book villain The Joker.

Winchester man Jeremy Putnam, 31, was arrested for painting his face to look like Heath Ledger's take on the Joker in 2008's The Dark Knight.



Police took several calls reporting the man, who was also sporting a black cape and carrying a sword.

Strangely, the charge Mr Putnam is facing is for wearing a mask in public, a felony crime in Virginia which can result in punishment of up to five years in jail, according to police.

Putman is being held on a US$2,000 bond.

Newshub.