A Dover man has been sentenced after threatening to rip out a community police officer's spine.

Michael Stanton was arrested on December 7 last year after being spotted on CCTV drinking from a can in the alcohol control zone in Pencester Park in Dover.

Stanton, of Castle Hill, Dover, was said to be abusive to a PCSO when they responded to a call-out.

He was seen to be aggressive and used bad language, and at one point threatened to "rip out" the officer's spine.

Stanton was later arrested and charged with using threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence.

The 50-year-old denied the offence but was found guilty at Folkestone Magistrates Court.

He was given a 12-month community order, sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £520 court costs.