Fake Melbourne armed guard bailed

An unlicensed Melbourne security guard spotted with a gun in the aftermath of the Bourke Street tragedy has been released on bail after spending less than an hour in custody.

Aaron John Purvis, 27, was seen walking through a Bourke Street memorial wearing tactical gear and carrying a gun, just days after January's fatal rampage through the city.

The former VFL player cried as magistrate David Starvaggi jailed him for 12 months on Tuesday, admonishing his "complete charade of a life".

Purvis' security guard and gun licences had expired in 2015 when he applied for work as a cash in-transit guard in 2016.

He fudged his documents, changing the "2015" expiry date to "2018".

But Purvis' lawyer Michael Kuzilny lodged an appeal against his sentence shortly after the daily gym-goer was taken into custody.

Purvis was released on bail and is due to appear in the County Court of Victoria on February 21.