A Kennington man has narrowly escaped prison after he waved a machete around with a four-month-old child in his arms.

Marty Valle, 25, of Bybrook Road, pleaded guilty to affray after the incident at an address in Kennington on Sunday, October 30.

Police cars rushed to a flat in Bybrook Road at 7.20pm after reports of a "disturbance" and neighbours witnessed a man making threats and waving a weapon.

Officers spent more than an hour at the scene, where they found Valle with three knives – a penknife, a machete and a serrated kitchen knife.

The then 24-year-old was arrested and charged with affray, which he admitted at a previous court hearing.

Appearing at Folkestone Magistrates Court, Valle was given a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Magistrates said they had to impose a prison sentence because the offence was so serious.

Valle was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months and pay total costs of £200.