A disgraced former police officer has been ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work after admitting assaulting a friend of his ex-partner.

Robbie Egan was still a serving officer with Kent Police - based in Canterbury - at the time of the attack in June last year.

Egan was still a serving officer when the attack happened

The circumstances of the incident were again outlined at Margate Magistrates' Court yesterday, when Egan was sentenced having pleaded guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing.

The assault followed an acrimonious split from his then girlfriend Jessica Owen, who had arrived at Egan's home and "dumped" his belongings in the driveway, on the day the sale of his late grandfather's house was completed.

Egan, 30, of Fernlea Avenue, Herne Bay, who had been a police constable with Kent Police for two years, is said to have flown into a rage at what he believed was the thoughtless timing of her arrival, admitting it had made him "extremely emotional".

Footage of the incident was shared with KentOnline, which showed a furious Egan yelling at his ex: "How dare you? After you knew what my mum and dad’s been through today."

Egan then assaulted Miss Owen's friend Danny Cambridge, who had arrived with her in a car.

Prosecutor Julie Fairbrass told magistrates the incident happened at 11.30pm in the evening, with Mr Cambridge reporting that Egan had dug his elbow into his windpipe and punched him.

The degree of the assault was disputed by Egan, who claimed he had only pushed Mr Cambridge twice after he had grabbed his mother's arm - something Mr Cambridge strongly denied.

Egan's version of events was rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service, but he said he was only admitting the assault on that basis.

After being charged with the offence, Egan was immediately suspended by Kent Police, pending a misconduct hearing.

But he resigned from the force before the hearing, which determined last week that he would have been dismissed had he still been in the job.

His details were added to the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing him from becoming an officer again or taking up roles within the fire service.

Speaking for Egan yesterday, solicitor Ian Bond said his client had already suffered significant punishment with the loss of his job and career.

"He had been caring for his grandfather, was under extreme pressure at work and his mental wellbeing had deteriorated," he said.

"I suggest his former girlfriend knew the significance of the date she chose to dump his belongings, which is difficult to justify."

Mr Bond told the magistrates there was a "substantial element" of provocation, but his client was embarrassed by his behaviour and should have known how to de-escalate the situation.

He also said that Egan had showed remorse, and the degree of the assault resulted in only"low-level harm" to Mr Cambridge.

"The conviction is a real setback for him and his mental wellbeing," Mr Bond said, adding that while Egan previously turned to alcohol to address his issues, he has not drunk since August last year.

Mr Bond urged magistrates to consider a low-level community order, given the "significant mitigating factors".

Presiding magistrate Jackie Allison told Egan the bench accepted there had been "some provocation" leading to the assault.

"But as a serving police officer, you were trained in how to deal with an escalating situation and chose not to on this occasion," she added.

As well as the community work requirement, Egan will have to pay £85 costs and a £95 surcharge.