A town centre menace who previously insisted he was not a troublemaker has been issued with a court order banning him from drinking in public.

Police received a string of complaints about Jagjit Sidhu being abusive and aggressive in the street, walking in front of cars and even threatening to kill a woman.

The 53-year-old, of Harmer Street, Gravesend, has now been locked up for 160 days for a series of anti-social acts in Gravesend.

Upon release from jail, the self-confessed alcoholic will be subject to a two-year criminal behaviour order banning him from carrying or drinking alcohol in public, being drunk in public, and causing "harassment, alarm or distress to any person".

PC Jim Walker, of the Gravesham community safety unit, said: “Jagjit Sidhu has caused problems for the local community for several years now, particularly in the clock tower and town centre areas.

“The issues of anti-social behaviour stem from his alcohol abuse, and over the past 12 months we have received multiple complaints about him.

“These include him drinking in an alcohol control zone, being abusive and aggressive to members of the public and stepping out in front of vehicles.

"Jagjit Sidhu has caused problems for the local community for several years now" - PC Jim Walker

“I am pleased the court has seen fit to issue Sidhu with a criminal behaviour order and hope he uses the restrictions placed upon him effectively as a way to address his issues with alcohol and turn his life around.”

Sidhu, who in 2013 said it “was not in his nature” to cause trouble, could spend five years in prison if he breaches the order.

He must also keep in contact with the alcohol and drug support charity CRI.

The order was granted by Medway magistrates following Sidhu’s conviction for two counts of being drunk on a highway and an incident on August 18 in which he dialled 999 and threatened to kill a woman in Gravesend.

The charges for being drunk on a highway relate to arrests in New Road on April 2 and in King Street on August 16.

Sidhu’s comments in 2013 came after he was knocked down and injured by a car on August 28 of that year.

He accused police of refusing to properly investigate the incident because he had been drinking.