A police officer has told a court of the terrifying moment he was confronted by a gunman and feared for his life.

PC Anthony Jacklin said he "genuinely and honestly" believed he and his colleague would be shot when the handgun was allegedly aimed at them by Steven Kelly.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard the weapon – which was later discovered to be an imitation handgun - was pointed at the two officers after they had pulled up outside a remote farm between West Kingsdown and Eynsford during the early hours of March 26.

PC Jacklin explained that despite his police training, "human instinct" took over. "I was just waiting for the bang to go off," he added. "I thought myself and my colleague were about to be shot."

"I genuinely and honestly felt in fear of my life and thought I was going to be shot..." - PC Anthony Jacklin

The dramatic moment was captured both on the police vehicle's in-built camera and a CCTV camera on the farm building. Both were played to the jury.

Kelly, 44, of Mahogany Close, Rotherhithe, south east London, denies possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He also denies possessing 6kg of skunk cannabis with intent to supply. The court heard the drugs were found inside a static caravan in one of the farm buildings.

The two officers were on patrol in an unmarked vehicle in Detling when they heard reports over their radio that a Mercedes Sprinter van and trailer had been stolen from Horton Kirby.

PC Jacklin and PC Scott Godden headed along the A20 towards Swanley before driving along Knatts Valley Road and into rural Maplescombe Road.

PC Jacklin, who was driving, told the court they came across a large building resembling a chicken shed. Noticing a light on inside the premises, they pulled up outside.

A Boxer dog was running around in the compound and a BMW was parked inside a closed gate, the court heard.

The officers then manoeuvred their car so that the headlights were pointing down towards the shed.

PC Jacklin said he saw the silhouettes of four people walking around inside. One then came running towards their vehicle.

"He was approximately three bonnet car lengths from our vehicle. He shouted something but I couldn't make out what it was," he told the court.

"He then raised his right arm and pointed a silver-coloured handgun directly at me and my colleague. At the time everything slowed down because it wasn't something I was expecting."

PC Jacklin said he had a "very clear" view of the man in their headlights.

"The only thing I was concentrating on was the barrel of the gun," he added. "It just seemed to draw you in."

He described himself as being terrified and that the gunman was "visibly shaking" and aggressive.

The officer explained how he then ducked down behind the wheel and reversed away from the farm having turned on the car's blue lights. They then waited further down Maplescombe Road for back-up to arrive.

PC Jacklin said the incident lasted no longer than a minute, but "felt longer".

Asked by prosecutor Iestyn Morgan why he and PC Godden had left the scene, the officer added: "I genuinely and honestly felt in fear of my life and thought I was going to be shot."

He added: "I was extremely shaken up. Being a police officer, it goes to one side and human instinct takes over, and adrenalin."

The trial is expected to end this week.