A 20-year-old man pulled a screwdriver outside McDonald’s and threatened to use it after a woman tried to calm him down during a drunken fracas.

Loui Dawkins brandished the tool as the innocent bystander attempted to defuse the confrontation in Canterbury city centre.

Folkestone Magistrates’ Court was told he had earlier been taken out drinking by a friend as thanks for helping him fix his motorbike.

At the end of the evening they enjoyed a meal at McDonald’s in St George’s Street, but as they left trouble erupted outside the fast food restaurant at about 10.30pm.

The pair were shouted at by a group of men, with some attacking Dawkins by punching and kicking him.

Dawkins realised he had lost his friend and became angry and agitated, so a woman who had witnessed what had happened put her hand on his chest to try to calm him down and defuse the situation.

But Dawkins at this point reached into his tool bag and pulled out a screwdriver, before waving it around and threatening to use it.

He was arrested and later charged with possession of an offensive weapon and pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared in court last month.

Sentencing was adjourned for probation reports, with Dawkins, of Ingoldsby Road, Canterbury, returning to learn his fate on Tuesday.

Gordon Crow, defending, told the court his client was remorseful about what had happened on August 10 last year.

“The complainant - the woman - was trying to calm him down; he didn’t use any violence, just threats,” he said.

“For want of an expression, it was handbags.

“There was a lot of shouting, no violence. and she was holding him by the chest. He got the screwdriver out of his bag and brandished it.

“He should be given full credit for his early guilty plea and he was candid with police. He doesn’t normally drink and he didn’t react in the right way.

“He will not be before the courts again. He’s shown a considerable amount of remorse. It was a one-off - he made a mistake.”

District Judge Paul Booty said he had considered sending the case to crown court for sentencing, but after hearing the facts and mitigation decided his sentencing powers were sufficient enough.

He told Dawkins: “You pulled out the screwdriver in an aggressive manner and that is a concern, but having said that, I accept it was a one-off incident.

“You have no previous convictions and have shown remorse and entered an early guilty plea, and I can give you full credit for that.”

The judge jailed Dawkins for four months but suspended the term for 18 months.

He warned him that if he offends in that time he will go to prison.

Dawkins was also placed under curfew for four months and must wear an electronic tag and stay indoors from 8pm to 6am each day.

He was also ordered to attend 15 rehabilitation sessions with probation and pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 court costs.