A man was so enraged about a cathedral's crazy golf course he launched an expletive-laden rant and grabbed a woman by the neck.

Michael Feeney, of St Margarets Banks, Rochester, caused a disturbance at the Rochester Cathedral on Saturday, August 3.

The 67-year-old had been sitting outside the cathedral with his dog at around noon when Margaret Moore, a visiting chaplain, approached him.

He began to shout about how he didn't approve that they had a crazy golf course at the cathedral and grabbed her lightly by the throat.

He left and returned an hour later when there were around 40 visitors there including children.

Witnesses said that Feeney was clearly intoxicated and that he began shouting again.

Joseph Miller from the cathedral approached Feeney to see what was going on and he was also shouted at.

Feeney raised his fist at him, but Mr Miller managed to push him off.

Visitors reported hearing Feeney say: "This isn't ******* Disneyland, this is a ******* cathedral, this is a ******* disgrace."

Police arrived and arrested him.

He appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court in Chatham on Tuesday, September 3 and pleaded guilty to engaging in riotous, violent or indecent behaviour in a church, chapel or churchyard under Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860 and one count of common assault

His solicitor Ghulam Humayum said that Feeney does not describe himself as a churchgoer, but "he just found that there was something wrong."

He said that while Feeney had been outside he overheard some French tourists speaking about the attraction and felt they were making a mockery.

Mr Humayum added Feeney had two glasses of wine to drink on the day.

Addressing magistrates, Mr Feeney, who also lives in Spain, said: "Can I just say, I never hit anyone.

"I am extremely sorry, I am extremely ashamed about it. I am trying to be a nice person.

"I think you can go down to Rochester High Street and they will speak very nicely about me.

"I am not against the cathedral at all. I go into there to pray sometimes."

He was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and asked to pay £85 costs.

The bridge-themed course closed at the weekend.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway