More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A knife-wielding pub-goer who took his aggression out on fellow punters, staff and police officers has been jailed for 17 months.
Sam Wood, 29, of no fixed address, pulled out the blade at the Wetherspoon County Hotel in Ashford, during an evening out in July.
Police arrived at the pub at about 11.45pm following reports Wood had been threatening people with the knife and was behaving erratically.
He was arrested in the beer garden and was initially compliant, showing officers where he disposed of a bag containing the knife and a small quantity of cannabis.
But his mood quickly changed when he was led to a police van, where he began to act aggressively and spit at the officers.
He also attempted to headbutt one.
After being interviewed in custody and charged, Wood was immediately recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his licence in relation to a separate conviction.
He later pleaded guilty to affray, possession of a knife in a public place, assaulting an emergency worker, criminal damage to a prison cell and possession of cannabis, and was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday.
Investigating officer PC Bryony Evans of Kent Police said: "Knife crime is a serious matter and people should be free to enjoy a night at the pub without the likes of Sam Wood making threats towards them whilst armed with an offensive weapon.
"His actions were completely unacceptable and put many people in fear for their own safety.
"It is regrettable that he should commit such offences while on licence for a previous conviction, and I hope he spends the time he now has in prison to reflect on his decisions and take positive action to turn his life around."
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